Belize and the United States signs Safe 3rd country agreement

The Government of Belize and the Government of the United States today signed an Agreement For Cooperation Regarding The Examination Of Protection Requests. The Agreement was formalized by Hon. Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Culture and Immigration, and Ms. Katherine Beamer, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the United States in Belize.

Under the agreement:

• Asylum seekers who are seeking protection in one country (in this case, the U.S.) can be transferred to the "safe third country" (Belize) to have their asylum claim determined there instead.  

  
  

• • Belize retains an absolute veto over transfers.  

  • There will be restrictions on nationalities and a cap on the total number of transferees.

  • Comprehensive security screenings will be conducted, and no person deemed a threat to public safety or national security will be allowed entry.

  • The United States may provide financial and technical assistance to enhance Belize's migration and asylum management system.  

The agreement between Belize and the U.S. will take effect only after ratification by the Senate and the establishment of operating procedures.

Similar agreements have been used by other countries, most notably the Safe Third Country Agreement between Canada and the United States, which has been in effect since 2004.

FILE PHOTO: GOB Press Office

The signing reaffirms Belize’s commitment as a responsible and cooperative member of the international community, upholding its humanitarian values while maintaining strong protection of our national security and sovereignty.