New Immigration Agreement Between U.S. and Belize

The U.S. government has finalized an agreement with Belize that aims to tackle illegal immigration and offer asylum seekers more options for resettlement. This safe third country agreement was reported by the State Department on Monday, allowing U.S. asylum seekers—many of whom may be in the U.S. without legal status—to have their cases processed in Belize.

According to the State Department’s Western Hemisphere Bureau, “We are grateful to the government of Belize for signing the Safe Third Country Agreement. This is an important milestone in eliminating illegal immigration, stopping abuse of our asylum system, and strengthening our shared resolve to address the hemisphere’s challenges together.”

This agreement comes on the heels of a significant crackdown by the Trump administration on illegal immigration, which has seen many foreign governments pressured to serve as places for deportees who cannot or will not return to their home countries.

Since President Trump took office, over 500,000 undocumented immigrants have been deported, and roughly 485,000 have been arrested by immigration officials. Reports indicate that, encouraged by financial incentives, more than 2 million have opted to leave the country voluntarily.

In August, the State Department also concluded similar agreements with Paraguay and made arrangements with countries like Eswatini, Rwanda, and South Sudan to facilitate expulsions. Earlier this year, the U.S. flew hundreds of deportees from Asian countries to Costa Rica and Panama.

While Belize has confirmed the agreement, officials emphasized their right to deny entry on a case-by-case basis. “Belize retains absolute veto power over transfers, with nationality restrictions, transfer caps, and comprehensive security checks,” stated Belizean officials. They noted that individuals deemed a threat to public safety or national security would not be allowed to enter Belize.

Moreover, it’s possible that the U.S. could provide financial and technical support to enhance Belize’s immigration management systems if requested.

However, not everyone in Belize is on board with the agreement. Tracy Panton, an opposition leader and member of the House of Representatives, described the deal as a matter of “deep national interest.” She expressed concerns about Belize’s capacity to manage the complexities associated with these agreements efficiently.

The Safe Third Country Agreement must still be ratified by Belize’s Senate before taking effect and will remain valid for a minimum of two years unless either party chooses to end it.