IOM Urges Final Push as Thousands of Undocumented Migrants Near Legal Status

More than six thousand undocumented migrants are being processed, but tonight, the lead agency is calling on the remaining two thousand to complete the amnesty application process.  With this amount of application being processed, the international Organization for Migration (IOM) has hailed it a milestone.  The organization is ramping up support efforts across the country to get the undocumented achieve legal status.  The IOM, through its mobile migrant hubs, has been working closely with the Government of Belize to ensure applicants understand the requirements, prepare documents, and access essential services as they move through the amnesty process. Diana Locke, Head of Office for IOM Belize, says the collaborative push has contributed significantly to the high level of participation nationwide.

Diana Locke, International Organization Migration Belize: “We also had four centers that were opened, one in Cayo, one in Belmopan, one in Belize City and another one in Bella Vista in Toledo and they were also helping people with the amnesty. So overall we saw 8,000 people of the 13,000 that applied IOM through those offices and the work we did in the field, we helped 8,000 people. What we were able to establish with the government is that because of a data sharing agreement that we have, we were able to provide them with the list of our names of the persons and they were able to confirm that 6,000 out of those 8,000 persons applied. So we know that at least the work was not in vain. They applied and basically we have continued to provide support to them. We do know that those 2,000 people who did not apply are out there somewhere. We don’t know what is the reason. It may be an identity document. So these are some of the challenges that people had but the government is almost done reading all of those files. I think there’s only maybe under 300 files to be read. I think their aim is to get it done now and so we are trying to encourage people to complete this process because it can’t stay open forever. So we’re trying to encourage people to get it closed by the end of the year.”

The program forms part of a broader UN-backed partnership that includes UNICEF and UNHCR, aimed at strengthening protection and integration for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers living in Belize.  While progress is notable, Locke says many applicants still face obstacles, from difficulty obtaining documents to uncertainty about next steps.

Diana Locke, International Organization Migration Belize: “I can definitely tell you that when we were doing it the identity documents were a problem. People couldn’t apply because their children didn’t have a birth certificate, they weren’t registered, so that was a big barrier to people getting into the amnesty who qualified. There was also the issue of having a passport or an identity card from the country of origin. A lot of them had lost those documents, they were here for years, or the documents were destroyed or damaged and so they didn’t have any form of ID. That was one of the first challenges we found. We overcame those hurdles but now that all these persons are being approved and you get the permanent resident card from these after you’ve paid you go to social security and social security says I need a current birth certificate and so they’re right back to square one because three years ago they applied with a birth certificate from let’s say Guatemala,  Honduras unfortunately those countries have an expiration date on their birth certificate.”

The IOM is encouraging migrants who have already started the process to complete their remaining requirements and to reach out for guidance wherever needed. Officials emphasize that support remains available across the country as Belize continues advancing this national initiative.