NEW YORK — Three Filipinos in the United States have decided to leave the country through voluntary deportation, meaning they will go back to the Philippines at their own expense instead of staying to face their legal cases in court.
The Philippine Consulate General offices in New York and San Francisco are helping them prepare documents and coordinate with US authorities.
Who They Are and Their Cases
One of them is a 29-year-old man from Middlesex, Massachusetts, who was already convicted of very serious crimes in the past. His record includes:
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Rape
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Aggravated rape of a child
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Rape of a child with force
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Four counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14
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Two counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14
Another Filipino is detained in Philadelphia on terrorism-related charges. The consulate is also assisting him while they wait for instructions from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) about when he can be sent home.
According to Rovald Valdez, a New York consular officer from the Assistance to Nationals Section, there is currently a big backlog of people applying for voluntary deportation, which means it could take time before they are processed.
What Is Voluntary Deportation?
Voluntary deportation is a legal choice for non-citizens to leave the United States willingly by a certain date set by an immigration judge or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
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They pay for their own travel costs.
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They avoid having a formal removal order, which can make it harder to return in the future.
Other Filipinos in US Detention
In Aurora, Colorado, another Filipino is detained at the ICE Denver Contract Detention Facility.
The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco visited him on July 24, 2025 to check on his welfare before their Consular Outreach Mission in Colorado (July 25–26, 2025).
During the visit, the detained Filipino said he wants to go back to the Philippines as soon as possible. He also thanked the consulate for their welfare support and assistance.
FBI-Arrested Filipino in Los Angeles
In Los Angeles, the consulate is monitoring the case of another Filipino arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for alleged ties with the terrorist group ISIS.
Consul Levi Malaylay confirmed that the consulate is in contact with the family of the 29-year-old Filipino who is now in federal custody and is coordinating with US authorities on his case.
This series of cases shows how Philippine officials in the US are actively monitoring, assisting, and visiting detained Filipinos to ensure their rights are protected, even when they are facing serious charges or immigration issues.
