U.S. Pushes Belize to Accept Asylum Seekers Under New Deal

While Belize recently signed a memorandum of cooperation with the United States, attention is now focused on a more significant agreement the U.S. is pushing for: a “safe third country” agreement. This accord would allow the U.S. to reroute asylum seekers to Belize, requiring them to pursue their asylum claims in Belize rather than in the United States. Many Central American nations have already entered into such agreements, and Belize is facing similar pressure.  During a recent interview, Minister of Foreign Affairs Francis Fonseca addressed the ongoing discussions, confirming that the US has raised the issue and that the Briceno Administration is reviewing the draft documents provided to them.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Culture and Immigration: “They have raised it with us as a government. They have provided us with some draft documents. We are reviewing those documents. We’re vetting them through our Attorney General’s Ministry. When that vetting process is completed then the matter will be tabled at Cabinet if the Prime Minister so deems appropriate and we’ll have a discussion about it then so that’s where we are with it. But yes indeed the United States government has raised that issue as they have with many different countries. I know they concluded one with Guatemala, I believe Mexico, with Honduras, with Guyana as well so you know we are looking at it, vetting it, reviewing it, we’ll have a discussion at the appropriate time when the Prime Minister feels that he wishes to table the matter before Cabinet we’ll discuss it and make a decision.”

Love News understands that the documents are being reviewed and vetted by the Office of the Attorney General.  Fonseca noted that the process will take its due course, with the matter only being presented to Cabinet for discussion if deemed appropriate by the Prime Minister./