When Green Becomes Greener

To work and to live peacefully in the United States is perhaps, one the greatest dream of most Filipinos. Our professionals and skilled workers are advancing their knowledge, skills, training and expertise to increase their potentials in the global competition. They are doing their utmost best to reach their ultimate dreams not only for their personal benefits but for the greener future of their family.

But not all Filipinos are instantly successful in legally working in the United States. Some of them need to hide their shadows for working illegitimately. They fit in positions lower than their earned degrees, be compensated below than their hard works, and be kept on fear of being deported away from becoming a legitimate citizen of the United States.

According to latest government data collated by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) in 2013, around 271,000 "irregular" Filipino migrants are in the US. The CFO statistic consists of Filipino migrants in the US who are undocumented, are without a valid residence or work permit, or are overstaying tourists and workers.[1]

President Barack Obama in his contemporary eight-day visit in Asian countries, promised to initiate an Executive Action to legalize undocumented immigrants in the United States. And for the fulfillment of his vow to fix a broken immigration system, US President recently announced his new immigration plan. The President`s Immigration Accountability Executive Actions will temporarily shield undocumented immigrants from deportation.

Under this new plan, eligible immigrants will have the opportunity to request temporary relief from deportation if they come forward and pass criminal and national security background checks and pay a fee.[2] The United States will grant a work permit to immigrants without proper travel documents who have stayed in the US for at least 5 years, have children who are American citizens or are legal residents, have registered, and are willing to pay taxes.[3]

This would not be the first time President Obama issued an executive order on immigration. And this is just a common sense step from his office, but only the Congress can finish the job. That is, fix the whole system.[4]

This initiative of President Barack Obama opens fair opportunity and huge challenge for all undocumented immigrants in the U.S. especially to our “kababayans” who has been competing for their lucks in the past several years. Fair opportunity for our fellow Filipinos to get back and abide on the legal rules. They can now have nondiscriminatory job opportunity, earn according to their capabilities and most importantly work and stay in their dream country without any fear of being deported.

This is a huge challenge for us to prove our worth as efficient contributor in the international community. Another milestone for us Filipinos to showcase to the world our infinite knowledge, dynamic skills, and world class expertise.

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[1] http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/balikbayan/76106-filipinos-eligible-us-deportation-shield

[2] http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/11/20/fact-sheet-immigration-accountability-executive-action

[3] http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/balikbayan/76106-filipinos-eligible-us-deportation-shield

[4] [4] http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/11/20/fact-sheet-immigration-accountability-executive-action