This morning January 20th. while this article was being written, channel 1 Belize.com was informed that all those persons were relocated to the Biltmore Plaza Hotel, one of the best Hotels in Belize City.
Central America is theming with all sorts of problems and at the top of that list are Migrants Rights, Human Trafficking and Unlawful Entry.
According to the laws that govern many states in Central America, a country and its government must adhere to the international laws when it pertain to persons seeking asylum and also that country’s laws pertaining to lawful entry are also at issue.
In the case of the 37 Venezuelans that have been denied entry and subsequently detained on the instructions of the department of immigration, (not the police) on the ground that they are not visitors / tourist, and are not claiming asylum.
The duties of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Immigration could be severely affected by people playing politics with very serious issues that can cascade far beyond our nightmares; of thousands of migrants seeking to enter the country without the due process, which is at last check the best in Central America.
According to Belize Law, a visitor/tourist must indicate at the time of entry into the country certain particulars that enables the Department of Immigration (which does follow international law). to grant or deny an application to enter the country.
The Dept. of Immigration then make a determination if a person is entering the country lawfully, as a visitor/tourist or if the person has obtained the necessary visa or seeking other permanent resident status, or if that person or persons are seeking political asylum or fleeing unjust persecution.
While we can all empathize with the plight of the Venezuelans seeking to be in Belize; and who’s nation had once been very generous to Belize,
a challenge to the Department of Immigration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and our government could have consequences far beyond the initial intentions of playing politics with serious issues, and could also become a public relations nightmare in the region.
This morning January 20th. while this article was being written, channel 1 Belize.com was informed that all those persons were relocated to the Biltmore Plaza Hotel, one of the best Hotels in Belize City.
Written & Compiled by: channel1Belize.com / digitalBelize,LIVE Staff writer – Monday, January 20th. 2022 – channel1belize@gmail.com