Biometric System Expands With New Border Taskforce

Following the rollout of Belize’s new biometric screening system, done in partnership with the United States, there’s another major upgrade coming to our borders. A brand‑new, highly vetted unit of police and immigration officers is being formed to work directly with the U.S. Embassy. Their mission: crack down on fraudulent documents and strengthen identity checks under the Biometric Data Sharing Program. It’s all part of a wider push to tighten border security and clamp down on immigration offenses. Today, Immigration Minister Kareem Musa broke down how this unit will operate and what Belizeans can expect going forward.

 

Kareem Musa, Minister of Immigration

“We launched the BDSP, which is the biometric data sharing partnership with the United States Government. Subsequent to that we agreed with the United States government to form a vetted unit that will comprise not only police officers, but immigration officers and they will be targeting. Specifically, immigration offenses, so being in possession of fraudulent documents, that type of thing. And again, we can now utilize the BDSP to have very quick, reliable information getting back to us. And so similar to what you saw with the ANU it used to be the drug ADU, but then it became the Anti-Narcotics Unit, which is a vetted unit that is also in conjunction with the US Embassy. We now have an immigration vetted team. Comprising immigration officers and police officers that will be working along with the US Embassy.”

 

Shane Williams

“Does that team get additional allowances?”

 

Kareem Musa

“I do believe so, yes.”