ICE detains Filipino teachers after Maui immigration raid

NEW YORK — A dozen Filipino teachers with J-1 non-immigrant visas were temporarily detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Hawaii following a raid on the island of Maui.

Hawaii Consul General Arman Talbo confirmed that the teachers, who are employed in several schools in Maui, were subjected to verification procedures and that none of them were arrested by federal agents.

"The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu has reached out to the Filipino teachers in Maui who were affected by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation. The teachers informed the Consulate that none of them had been arrested and that they are safe and in good condition," Consul General Talbo told GMA Integrated News in a message.

The Consulate stated that it is closely monitoring the situation and that the Philippine post in Hawaii is prepared to assist the teachers, if needed.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said the teachers encountered during the operation were placed under statutory law enforcement authority and subjected to immigration verification.

The operation was conducted pursuant to a search warrant issued by a federal judge in connection with an ongoing immigration investigation.

Talbo said the raid was conducted on May 6 and that the Filipinos were released on the same day upon completion of the verification process.

In a statement, the Hawaii State Department of Education said it had spoken with the teachers involved and stands ready to support them:

"The Department is aware of an incident involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at a private residence housing several of our international teachers on Maui. All of the teachers are safe and accounted for, and we understand the situation was resolved on site with no arrests made," it said.

There are currently more than 100 Filipino teachers serving across various islands in Hawaii.

According to the Bridge USA website by the US State Department, the exchange visitor J non-immigrant visa category is for individuals approved to participate in work-and-study-based exchange visitor programs. — VDV, GMA Integrated News