Belize and U.S. Formalize Safe Third Country Agreement, Foreign Minister Explains

On Monday Belize officially signed the Safe Third Country co-operation agreement with the United States of America. The framework agreement. This morning on the LOVE MORNING SHOW, Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca thoroughly explained that the agreement involves people from all over the world who have applied for amnesty or refugee status and are currently in the USA.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs: “The current situation is that those people would then stay in the United States while that claim that they have filed is being determined, is being resolved, is being reviewed, is being determined. What the United States has sought to do, not just under this administration, it has been done even under the Biden administration before is to work with countries to establish these agreements, which would allow these persons, these asylum seekers, to stay and wait in third countries while that claim is being heard and reviewed and determined.  So, they have signed, for example, these third country agreements with every country in Central America.  Every country. Belize is the last country in Central America. It’s not something they’re doing with CARICOM really because although they’ve done it with Guyana, they’ve signed one with Guyana and they are exploring with a few other countries in CARICOM but for them it’s more about Central America. So Belize, because of our geographical location, has been identified as one of the countries that they want to cooperate with.”

He added that the US is not only Belize’s largest trading partner but also our strongest ally.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs: “In terms of trade and investment, in terms of um national security issues, work very closely with us  to deal with issues at the border, strengthen our police or BDF or Coast Guard capacity. So as a government, we felt that we had an obligation to engage with them on this issue, to see how we could work out some cooperation agreement that would be mutually beneficial and satisfactory to our country and to our people.”

This morning, Fonseca reassured the Belizean public that the signing of the agreement is the start of a process which will entail Senate ratification, but not before discussion and debate. Amendments will also have to be made to our domestic law…in this case the Refugee Act.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs: “Critically important for the Belizean people to understand is that we have to develop, working along with the United States, the operational procedures. That is the critical element, the operational procedures that will determine how this is operated. Now we’ve already established what we call a Statement of Principles that governs this agreement for Belize. I want to allay any fears that people have. That Statement of Principles will determine the nationalities of these individuals. So for example, Belize’s position is that we would only accept people who are from Central America and the Caribbean.  So that’s, for example, that’s a stated position. Central American and Caribbean nationals will be accepted in and in case of Central America, excluding Guatemala. Countries in Central America and CARICOM member states. Minus Guatemala from Central America, yeah.  Because it’s a country that has a claim on Belize.  And then the  numbers, I want people to understand that, again, we will have a cap on the numbers  of people who would be able to come to Belize and in  our case, we’re really talking,  and being very frank with you, obviously these things,  as I said, we have to finalize the operational procedures but we’re talking about really like 10 people annually.”

It Safe Third Country Agreement will initially remain in effect for two years and may be terminated by either party. The United States may also provide, upon request, financial and technical assistance to enhance Belize’s migration and asylum management system.