IOM Assists Belizeans in U.S. Seeking Safe Voluntary Return Home

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Belize is assisting Belizeans living in the United States who wish to return home voluntarily but face financial or logistical challenges. This initiative is linked to the CBP Home mobile app, through which migrants can indicate their intention to leave the United States, following a request from Government authorities for certain individuals to depart the country. The app is part of a broader U.S. government’s effort to facilitate voluntary departures and manage migration at the southern border and will provide an organized pathways for return. Many of those choosing to return to Belize cite a desire to reunite with family, seek employment opportunities at home, or reintegrate into their communities. The program offers a safe and coordinated return, providing hope for those who may otherwise face uncertainty abroad. Diane Locke, Head of IOM Belize, highlighted the organization’s role in helping returning Belizeans access support and navigate the process safely and efficiently.

Diana Locke, International Organization Migration Belize: “So basically they have this app called the Customs and Border Patrol app where a person who wishes to leave can register on the app and then the US government filters through those requests. If everything is, you’re not a person of interest, then they could pass you on to IOM. We have a global, what is called a global assisted voluntary return program. And so that program moves people on a voluntary basis. So if you volunteer to register to leave then we can bring you home. You have to do it voluntarily. So the deportees and the planes that you hear about, we don’t get involved in that. But we do bring people who want to come home voluntarily to register and then, as I said, we offer a service where a medical check is done. If you need psychosupport, somebody in an asylum process there is an evaluation that is done through a conversation with the person. A ticket is purchased, you are scheduled to come home on the receiving end, in the countries where this happens, IOM and like our office, would make arrangements for a taxi. We would have a staff meet you at the airport. The taxi is arranged, the taxi takes you to your home, and then the benefit of using that app, there is a payout of a thousand US dollars. So we have brought home one person already who got the payment through us and then we also brought home a second person who got the payment directly from the US government through Western Union. And so that is a feature that is available to any Belizean who is in the United States who doesn’t have the means to come home but they want to come home, that’s available to them.” 

The CBP Home App was formerly dubbed the CBP One App.  It was relaunched earlier this year under the new name that now facilitates self-deportation of undocumented migrants living in the United States.