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On February 16th, over a dozen Cubans and one Somali ended up in Belizean waters: two of them died as a result of their perilous journey from Cuba to Belize. Since their ordeal, the surviving crew members including a 16-year-old, have been in jail. But three of them including a Somali begged for the intervention of Human Rights Attorney, Antoinette Moore.

Moore today took their case to court arguing that Government is refusing to hear their refugees’ claims. The three of them, Karelis De Los Angeles Sosa, Pedro Garcia Carrera and Nur Abdi Shire have applied for refugee status in Belize and according to Moore, under the Refugee Act and United Nations Refugee Convention, they are entitled to a hearing. But they have received no response to their applications and none of the requirements under the law have been complied with.

And so, this morning, Justice Michellle Arana granted the 3 applicants their freedom and said that they are to be released from Prison; That they are not to be removed or deported from the country, and That they get their eligibility hearing as refugees. This came after the Government of Belize, represented by the Attorney General, Minister of National Security and the Director of Immigration Department conceded in court that the applicants should be heard as refugees.