2025-06-09 - Greater Belize Media

Belizeans in L.A. on High Alert Amid Anti ICE Protests

Protests over immigration enforcement escalated across Los Angeles, USA, over the weekend, erupting into fiery demonstrations and mass arrests that worsened after President Trump’s controversial deployment of National Guard troops without state approval.

At least 56 protesters were arrested, according to NBC News, as demonstrators torched self-driving Waymo vehicles, looted businesses, and shut down sections of the 101 Freeway. LA police responded with rubber bullets, tear gas, and flash-bangs, declaring multiple unlawful assemblies.

CBS News Los Angeles reported several fires were set in dumpsters and trash bins, and at least one store sustained damage from alleged looters. Graffiti covered dozens of buildings, including the LAPD Headquarters, the U.S. Courthouse, and the old Los Angeles Times building. Helicopter footage showed multiple shattered windows at police headquarters.

Protests began Friday after ICE raids in L.A.’s Fashion District and other locations and intensified when troops began guarding federal buildings.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the federal response, stating, “What we’re seeing in Los Angeles is chaos that is provoked by the [Trump] administration.”

President Trump ordered 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles, with 300 already deployed by Sunday. The move also drew criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom.

“Trump is trying to manufacture a crisis… hoping for chaos so he can justify more crackdowns, more fear, more control,” Newsom said.

The deployment was made without the governor’s approval, which prompted Newsom to threaten legal action. “We’re suing him,” he posted, calling the deployment “illegal and immoral.”

According to CBS News, Trump responded in brief remarks to reporters Monday, saying that California Gov. Gavin Newsom should be arrested and added, “I like Gavin Newsom … he’s a nice guy, but he’s grossly incompetent.”

An estimated 300,000 Belizeans live abroad, with most residing in the United States, where Los Angeles hosts the largest Belizean community.

With more than 55,000 Belizeans living in the Greater Los Angeles area, scattered primarily within the South Central, Inglewood, and Compton areas, it remains unconfirmed whether any Belizean nationals were among those arrested.

A second flight of deportees landed in Belize last week. Belizeans residing illegally in the U.S. are urged to take advantage of voluntary departure programmes, which offer a US$1,000 exit bonus for those who choose to self-deport.

According to California news, protests are expected to continue throughout the week.

FFB: They Made Belize Their Home and Touched Countless Lives

The football community is in mourning after the tragic deaths of 21-year-old Sidney Montenegro Ruiz and her 20-year-old brother, David Luis Montenegro, who died in a road accident on Sunday evening near Bladden Village, Toledo District.

“Tonight the Football family mourns,” said the Football Federation of Belize (FFB) in a statement. “We at the FFB honor their memory and extend our deepest condolences to their family, teammates, friends, and all who were touched by their lives.”

The FFB paid tribute to Sidney’s achievements and passion for the sport, noting, “Her dedication and talent helped lead the team to victory, and on May 31st, she proudly celebrated winning the Premier Women’s League of Belize (PWLB) championship, an achievement that earned her team the honour of representing Belize in the upcoming UNCAF tournament this July.”

The federation described her as someone whose presence was “marked by love, joy, and a radiant smile” and praised David as her “greatest supporter and constant companion.” According to the federation, David had graduated from Independence High School just the day before the accident.

The crash occurred around 5:30 p.m. between Miles 62 and 63 on the Thomas Vincent Ramos Highway. Police reported finding a brown Wingle pickup overturned in a roadside drain. Reports are that the siblings were returning to Bella Vista Village from a day at the Bladen River when the driver, David, reportedly lost control of the vehicle.

The siblings were found unresponsive at the scene and were later pronounced dead at Southern Regional Hospital. Meanwhile, 42-year-old teacher Asucion Tush was transported to the Southern Regional Hospital where he is receiving medical treatment for his injuries.

“Sidney and David made Belize their home and touched countless lives with their warmth, passion, and unwavering spirit,” the FFB added.

PM Attends UN Ocean Conference in France

Prime Minister John Briceño departed Belize on June 7 to attend the United Nations Ocean Conference 2025 in Nice, France.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to return on June 15, following the conclusion of the international conference focused on ocean-related issues and maritime policy.

During Briceño’s absence, Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde will serve as acting Prime Minister.

The UN Ocean Conference brings together world leaders, scientists, and policymakers to address critical issues affecting the world’s oceans, including climate change, marine conservation, and sustainable development.

This year’s parade theme is “Ocean Wonders,” which aims to draw attention to the importance of ocean conservation and inspire stronger commitments from governments.

Minister Musa: “It was an Act of Sabotage”

The dramatic flooding inside the Raccoon Street Police Station seen in a viral video last week was not entirely the result of structural decay, according to Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa. Speaking to News 5, Musa revealed that the flooding was worsened by what appears to be deliberate sabotage.

“We have information over the last few days, I think after we issued the press release…it was discovered that there is a hatch that goes onto the roof that was deliberately left open, and that is what caused a huge flow that was coming in,” he said.

Musa stressed that while the building does have a history of leaks, the scale of flooding seen in the video was not normal. “Yes, the building does suffer leaks, but not to that extent that you saw. And so obviously it was an act of sabotage, it appears,” he stated. “A lot of the water was coming from that particular area.”

Minister Musa Says Raccoon Street Police Station Will Be Replaced

Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa told News Five that the Raccoon Street Police Station in Belize City continues to be plagued by longstanding structural problems.

He said that these issues can no longer be solved by temporary fixes. Speaking in the aftermath of a viral video showing rain pouring inside the station, Musa said the time has come for a complete overhaul.

“As you know, the Raccoon Street Police Station has been suffering these leaks for decades,” he said. “We keep doing patchwork to it, but it’s obvious that we need a completely new building.”

Musa said that replacing the station will not be a minor undertaking. “That’s going to be a significant investment that’s going to be required to replace such a huge police station as Raccoon Street,” he explained. “And so that is obviously going to be the long-term plan to replace the building altogether.”

In the interim, the ministry is considering short-term strategies to address the current conditions. “It does require that we take some short-term strategies, maybe even find a new location for a lot of the offices on Raccoon Street and do some of the remedial work on the building itself in terms of the roof,” Musa added.

Montenegro Siblings Die in Crash While Returning Home

Police are investigating a fatal road traffic accident that claimed the lives of two siblings and left one man hospitalised on Sunday evening near Bladden Village, Toledo District.

The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. between Miles 62 and 63 on the Thomas Vincent Ramos Highway. Police reported arriving at the scene to find a brown Wingle pickup truck overturned in a roadside drain. Initial reports indicate the vehicle was heading from Medina Bank to Bella Vista when the driver lost control, causing the vehicle to flip.

21-year-old Sidney Montenegro Ruiz and her brother, 20-year-old David Luis Montenegro, were found unresponsive at the scene and were later pronounced dead at Southern Regional Hospital. Reports are that Sidney was found motionless near the crash, indicating she had been flung out of the vehicle during the incident.

Travelling with them was 42-year-old teacher Asucion Tush of Independence Village. He sustained serious injuries and is currently receiving medical treatment.

The Montenegro siblings had spent the day swimming at the Bladen River and were returning home to Bella Vista Village. They were originally from Costa Rica and had settled in Belize. Sidney Montenegro was known to be a standout footballer after joining Rumberas and then Sagitun Girlz in 2023. The team won the Premier Women’s League of Belize championship on 31 May. The win qualified them to represent Belize at the upcoming UNCAF tournament in July.

Images from the crash site show the vehicle with its roof crushed in and extensive damage to the body.