Belizean Deportee Chooses Third-Country Option

A Belizean deportee has taken an unusual route, choosing not to return home. Instead of coming back to Belize, the U.S. deportee opted to be sent to St. Kitts and Nevis under a “safe third country” arrangement. The decision highlights a little-known option available in some deportation cases. Immigration CEO Tanya Santos says details are limited, but made it clear the government has no authority to intervene once a Belizean chooses deportation to another country. An unusual situation now puts the spotlight on deportation choices and Belize’s influence when nationals are removed to third countries.

 

Tanya Santos, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Immigration

“One of the conditions of a safe third country agreement is that you can choose which country you want to go to and my understanding is that this person chose not to come to Belize. For whatever reason I do not know.”

 

Paul Lopez

“And in that case, how do you approach it?”

 

Tanya Santos

“Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs I am sure they will make sure the person is safe and protected in that country, but if he does not want to come home, we cant force him.  He is free. He is going to be living in Saint Kitts and I suspect they have their own arrangements with the U.S. for support for these people who go as safe third country refugees.”

 

This is the first reported case of a Belizean being deported to a safe third country.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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