Belmopan. April 7, 2022. 2:30 p.m.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Immigration notes that since the re-opening of the land borders on February 7, 2022, the Department of Border Management and Immigration Services has seen an upsurge in the number of Cubans, among other nationals, entering Belize via irregular means.
These Cuban nationals are utilizing the Refugees Program to avoid repatriation and are being handed over to Help for Progress. On April 6, 2022, the Assistant Director with responsibility for Enforcement was visited by a representative from Help for Progress who informed the Department that the 13 Cuban nationals, who were released to the Human Rights Commission of Belize as a result of a Supreme Court Ruling on March 18, 2022, and that of the Belmopan Magistrate Court Ruling on March 23, 2022, respectively, are no longer at the shelter.
To date, the department has seen a total of 39 Cuban nationals whose primary aim remains to reach the US/Mexico Border using Belize as a transit point. Most recently on April 5, 2022, the Mobile Interdiction Team of the Belize Police Department apprehended 16 Cuban nationals who entered via irregular means and handed them over to Immigration.
The ministry reiterates its commitment to the Global Compact for safe, regular and orderly migration.
Ends
