Filipino migrants and their allies gathered in Seattle on February 13 to mark the first anniversary of the Tanggol Migrante Movement (TMM), celebrating a year of grassroots organizing and victories against detention and deportation under intensifying anti-immigrant policies in the United States.
Held at the Centilia Cultural Center inside El Centro de la Raza, the event brought together community members, advocates, and organizations despite fears of increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity nationwide.
The program featured testimonies from migrants supported by TMM, along with messages of solidarity from labor, education, and migrant rights groups, including Migrante sa U, National Alliance for Filipino Concerns, and the International Migrants Alliance. Cultural performances and spoken word pieces highlighted the lived realities of repression, migration, and resistance.
One year of grassroots resistance
Speakers reflected on TMM’s formation as a response to intensified anti-immigrant measures under Donald Trump, including expanded detention and deportation operations.
Since its founding, TMM has grown into a broad alliance of nearly 20 grassroots organizations across Washington state. The network has organized Know-Your-Rights trainings, supported migrants navigating complex immigration systems, mobilized protests and campaigns, and directly assisted detainees.
To date, the movement has successfully secured the release of six Filipino migrants from ICE detention.
From detention to resistance
One of them, Max Londonio, shared his experience as the evening’s keynote speaker. Detained in May 2025 upon returning from a trip to the Philippines, Londonio recounted being held for days at the airport with minimal food and no communication, before being transferred to the Northwest Detention Center.
“Detention was dark and difficult. There were times when I wanted to give up,” he said. “But people gave me hope.”
Londonio described being placed in isolation and denied basic necessities unless he repeatedly requested them. He was eventually released in July 2025 after sustained organizing by his family, union, and TMM.
His wife coordinated with his union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, to secure his job while TMM mobilized legal and community support.
Londonio also criticized the response of the Philippine consulate, saying migrant detainees were “neglected and abandoned.” Despite this, he emphasized collective strength: “We are strong, we are united, we are resilient.”
A victory announced in real time
In a powerful moment during the program, organizers announced the release of another detainee, Greggy Sorio, who had spent nearly a year in detention. His habeas petition had just been granted.
Sorio appeared at the event shortly after his release, greeted with a standing ovation. “I just want to say thank you to everyone. I’m speechless,” he said.
His release followed months of campaigning by TMM, which had previously helped stop his deportation. However, organizers stressed that his struggle is not over, as he continues to seek medical care and legal protection from re-detention.
The struggle continues
Speakers underscored that many Filipino migrants remain detained and in need of support. Recorded messages from detainees inside the Northwest Detention Center were shared, including one who said, “I don’t have any relatives here, but I have you.”
TMM continues to raise funds for detainees’ legal expenses and basic needs, while building broader resistance to detention and deportation policies.
For organizers, the fight goes beyond individual cases. It is part of a larger struggle for migrant rights, dignity, and justice.
“Being a migrant is not wrong. Wanting a better life is not wrong,” Londonio said. “We must know our rights and stand up for one another.”
Building community beyond resistance
The event also pointed toward long-term efforts to strengthen migrant communities. The Filipino Community Health Board announced plans to open a Bayanihan Community Center in 2026, which will provide health services, legal support, and a space for organizing.
Rooted in the Filipino value of bayanihan—collective care and mutual aid—organizers said the center reflects the same spirit that has driven TMM’s work over the past year.
As the celebration concluded, participants emphasized that while victories have been won, the broader struggle continues—against detention, against displacement, and for the rights and dignity of migrants everywhere.
