Washington: At least 80 Filipinos have received deportation notices from United States authorities as the new administration pushes through with its plan to expel illegal aliens. The Filipinos are not detained and still have the opportunity to legalize their stay, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez shared in an interview Tuesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, the US government's crackdown on undocumented migrants began immediately after President Donald Trump was sworn into office on January 20. Earlier this month, the US deported illegal aliens from Africa and Asia, some reportedly from China and Vietnam, to Central American nations that are acting as third-country stopovers.

Ambassador Romualdez noted that none of the Filipino deportees have been put on similar deportation flights to another state so far. "It only goes to show that, for me, many of those Filipinos in the US have the chance to be able to have a legal path. That is my hope, that they will look into what status they can work on," he expressed.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has stated it is ready to extend necessary assistance to Filipinos who may be affected by the immigration crackdown.