BI blocks 7 US sex offenders at airports under ShieldKids program

Seven American sex offenders were prevented from entering the Philippines in January, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

Five individuals were intercepted at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, while one was stopped at Mactan-Cebu International Airport and another at NAIA.

On January 6, a 30-year-old man with a conviction for possessing obscene materials depicting minors was denied entry.

A 56-year-old American convicted in 2002 for sexually molesting a teenager and another 33-year-old convicted in 2014 for sexual abuse of a minor were also blocked from entering the country on January 14.

On January 15, a 69-year-old man with a criminal history involving child pornography in Wisconsin was turned back. On January 18, a 60-year-old convicted in 2000 for five counts of child molestation and a 71-year-old convicted in 2018 for possessing sexually abusive material were also intercepted.

All seven Americans were sent back to their ports of origin the day after they were intercepted due to a provision in the Immigration Act that prohibits entry for foreigners with convictions involving moral turpitude.

The BI emphasized that these exclusions are part of its ShieldKids Program, an initiative designed to safeguard Filipino children from exploitation and abuse by foreign predators.