Ellis Meighan Extradited, Faces Murder Charge

After more than a year in U.S. custody, Ellis Meighan is back in Belize. He was extradited recently and wasted no time facing serious charges; four of them, including murder for the April 2024 shooting death of Roy Lee Burgess in Placencia. He’s also accused of attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm, and dangerous harm in connection with the shooting of American national Maia James. We asked Prime Minister John Briceño how Meighan’s return was made possible. Here’s what he told us.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Thanks to Mr. Trump, who is quickly getting rid of everybody. It’s just incredible. You we laugh at it, but I can tell you last week I took my wife to the doctor and in Houston and I like to go to an IHOP for breakfast, there’s one particularly close by and usually you see a lot of Hispanics serving. When I went, I saw one, I think, or two in the kitchen, no servers. All of the servers now are black Americans and there are few, they don’t have enough people because they’re getting rid of everybody.”

 

Reporter

“Remittances. I saw a story with people sending back much more money.”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I think a lot of people are saying about their money to be able to save it here. If in case they’re picked up because that’s a problem that when they’re picked up, they don’t have a chance to go pick up their stuff. They just ship them. It’s a sad thing and it’s unfortunate because immigrants have played a critical role in the development of the United States. But again, it’s their government and we have to respect, the decision.”

 

Paul Lopez

“I was just asking if a specific request was made for me and or if it’s just something he got caught up in the process.”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I’m not sure. Probably, I think that was already in line because they were in jail already. Yeah. So he was in jail almost a year. But now, with them trying to  get rid of everybody very quickly and the deportation process.”