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Emigration and immigration

Belize Government to Make Public Agreement with US on Safe Third Country Status

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Belize government has announced plans to make public the agreement it signed with the United States to act as a 'safe third country' for migrants seeking asylum in the North American country. The two-year deal, which still needs approval from the Belize parliament, will allow migrants deported from the US to apply for asylum in Belize instead of returning to their home countries. The agreement has been met with criticism from human rights groups in the US and abroad, who fear that migrants face the risk of being sent to countries where they could be harmed.

Key Takeaways:

  • The agreement applies to Central American and Caribbean nationals, except Guatemalans, and will cover migrants deported from the US who can apply for asylum in Belize.
  • Human rights groups have criticized the deal, citing concerns about the safety of migrants in Belize.
  • The agreement still needs approval from the Belize parliament and will involve amending the Refugees Act to implement the deal.
  • Belize's Foreign Affairs Minister, Francis Fonseca, has stated that the document has been shared with the clerk and Senators, and the agreement will be debated in the Senate before being ratified.
  • Fonseca emphasized that the agreement will be underpinned by operational procedures with the United States, which will determine where migrants will come from and the number of people who can be transferred to Belize.
  • The agreement includes strict security measures to protect Belize's national security and sovereignty, and migrants will undergo comprehensive background checks.
  • The Opposition Leader, Tracy Taegar Panton, expressed grave concern about the deal, citing concerns about national sovereignty and security, and the lack of transparency and accountability by the Briceno administration.

Statistics:

  • The agreement is for a period of two years.
  • The agreement applies to Central American and Caribbean nationals, except Guatemalans.
  • The Refugees Act will need to be amended as part of implementing the deal.
  • The annual cap on the number of migrants who can be transferred to Belize is 10 people per annum.
  • The agreement includes operational procedures that will determine where migrants will come from and the number of people who can be transferred to Belize.
  • The US State Department has described the agreement as an 'important milestone in ending illegal immigration' and 'shutting down abuse' of the US asylum system.

Sources:

  • "Belize Government to Make Public Agreement with US on Safe Third Country Status" (AP News, as reported by the Belize Times)
  • Fonseca, Francis (2022). Statement in the House of Representatives on Friday.
  • Belize Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2022). Press statement on social media.

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