7 News Belize

Immigrants Flood Finnegan’s Office
posted (January 9, 2020)

It's an election year - and seasoned political observers know that it's not unusual to see a flurry of immigration activity at this time - especially in political offices controlled by the ruling party.

If you don't know how it works is this: politicians are always seeking to register new voters in their area.   And, since the 80's, Belize's large population of illegal immigrants has always been a rich source to harvest these new voters from.  

But, it's easier for the ruling party of the day - because they use government grease to fast track immigrants - who - in many cases - legitimately qualify for residency or citizenship, but cannot budge the bureaucracy to get their papers.  The momentum of elections gets those papers processed, and quick.  

But there are also outright cases of immigration fraud where political insiders work the system to get papers for immigrants who do not meet the criteria for nationality or residency.

The bottom line for the political operatives is to get these new names on the voters list.  And that's why many an eyebrow was raised today when a throng of Central American immigrants flocked to UDP Lake I hopeful Dianne Finnegan's office on Partridge Street today.  We went there to find out what was going on - and Jules Vasquez reports:

For two days, they have been lining up by the dozen, here on Partridge Street, scores of immigrants - most of them Central Americans - without regularized status. 

But this is not an immigration office; it’s UDP Lake I standard Bearer Dianne Finnegan’s constituency office.  Over the weekend, the Spanish-speaking Finnegan invited 20 Lake I residents who didn’t have regularized immigration status to her office - not knowing that this mad rush would happen.

Dianne Finnegan - UDP Std. Bearer, Lake I
"This was really a surprise to me Jules, I didn’t expect to find so many people undocumented."

They are legion.  Finnegan’s office has seen about 500 persons - bringing documents for entire families. Their desperation is palpable. They are filling out all kinds of documents and forms at a frantic pace - for a place that is not an official office. 

Finnegan says she saw the need and had to help:

Dianne Finnegan
"You have people who have been living you have people who have their permanent resident - its locked up at immigration. They've been calling, they've been going back and forth, either they get ignored, so they keep going back and forth, trying to get their documents. They aren't begging for anything, I don't even know if they know that the election is in November, we don't have that kind of conversation.â€￾

Indeed, we did not see that, but, the political calculus of this move is unavoidable:

Dianne Finnegan
"My purpose for companioning is to register Belizeans - nobody goes with the intentions to register nonimmigrants. You cross paths with that and you have to address the concern. They live here man."

Jules Vasquez
"So they can be made into Belizeans - they can be made into voters, so at the end of the day what you’re looking for..."

Dianne Finnegan
"And when they are made into voters, it means that both sides, all of a sudden see them, that they are valuable. They are human beings, they are valuable, they live in our country, they've been trying for so long to get their documents. Look at them, they all bring their papers, all sorted out, everything is in order. All they need is someone to take a few minutes and see them as a human beings and let them know, you don't qualify, you qualify, you lack certain documents, go get the rest of documents and none of them have come here and asked, please give me 20 dollars, 50 dollars, they don't need that, what they need is stability."

Jules Vasquez
"What you have here, all these well collated papers, what you have here are potential voters. Let’s not deny the political dimension of what you're doing."

Dianne Finnegan
"Yeah that's good (applause), great."

Jules Vasquez
"Are you going to fast track them to citizens, so that you can fast track them into voters, so that you can get on the list, so they can vote for you, that's how politics work Dianne."

Dianne Finnegan
"Jules I'll be honest with you, I no have no reason whatsoever to lie or to twist things, so that I look good. I am telling you, whether they vote for me or not, what makes me feel good, or what will make me feel good is that the needs of these people is addressed."

And, to do that - the Minister of state with responsibility for Immigration will come to the division next week Monday:

Dianne Finnegan
"So I contacted Minister Bev and I said girl, a lot of people they need their papers. We have no discussion about who will be voting, none of that, just the importance of getting people their documents. You have people here who have been working, they have children, children who have graduated from our schools and they still have not been able to get their status sorted out, you understand."

Jules Vasquez
"You are mixing up a human service officer and a politician. You are working here as a human service officer or politician?"

Dianne Finnegan
"Jules, your responsibility and the responsibility of the media houses, is to blow this us for people to start to get their jobs done."

And, her job is to get votes and win, so we had to circle back, and ask, again:

Jules Vasquez
"But you know there is a troubled history of immigration and election politics in Belize."

Dianne Finnegan
"That's because politicians has put a black eye on it."

Jules Vasquez
"You’re a politician, you need to find your voters, so let us be real, you now have a database of all of these people who you can..."

Dianne Finnegan
"When it comes to that, people only have to look at their circumstances. If they feel they are comfortable where they are, voting for someone who has them forming a line for handout, then that's them, you understand."

Jules Vasquez
"So you agree there's a political dimension to it?"

Dianne Finnegan
"Well at the end of the day, only the people decide what they want for themselves."

A few we spoke to seemed to clearly understand the political dynamic at work in a patronage system:

Jules Vasquez
"Why are you here?"

Jose Alonso Velasquez - Seeking Permanent Status
"Well I'm here because I want to get my papers done and what's not. I'm here a long time, so I really want to get through and love this country, so I want to be here."

Jules Vasquez
"But what were you told, that if you come here you can register to vote, what were you told?"

Jose Alonso Velasquez
"Well I was told that if I came here, maybe I'll get my papers, I don't know how lucky I am but I might get my papers and get successful in life you know because I want to get successful. I want to get my license; I want to get my papers you know."

Jules Vasquez
"How long have you been living in Belize?"

Jose Alonso Velasquez
"I'm in Belize for 18 years now."

Jules Vasquez
"And what is your immigration status?"

Jose Alonso Velasquez
"Well my immigration status, a couple years I start to deal with my papers."

Jules Vasquez
"Do you have permanent residence or citizenship?"

Jose Alonso Velasquez
"Nothing."

Jules Vasquez
"So you're illegally here?"

Jose Alonso Velasquez
"Yeah."

Jules Vasquez
"Wow okay, and you have kids here, Belizean kids?"

Jose Alonso Velasquez
"Yeah I have 2 kids."

Jules Vasquez
"So every day you live with uncertainty?"

Jose Alonso Velasquez
"Yeah"

Jules Vasquez
"Now you're here at a politician’s office. Is it the understanding that if she helps you to regularize your papers, to get PR or nationality, that you will have to vote for her? Is that the understanding?"

Jose Alonso Velasquez
"Well I don't mind because I know they help me, so I help them. I will do if I have to."

Dianne Finnegan
"Nobody told you that you have to vote for me."

Jose Alonso Velasquez
"Nobody told me that."

Jules Vasquez
"So you would vote for her out of being grateful."

Jose Alonso Velasquez
"Yeah, I would vote for her."

Jules Vasquez
"Do you live in Lake Independence?"

Jose Alonso Velasquez
"No, I live in Ladyville."

Jules Vasquez
"But register in Lake though?"

Jose Alonso Velasquez
"Yeah, I'm registered here. So no problem with that."

Roberto Arana - Seeking Status for Family
"16 years only me. It's for she, my wife."

Jules Vasquez
"You have your permanent residency?"

Roberto Arana
"I have nationality."

Jules Vasquez
"And why are you here?"

Roberto Arana
"I come register for she, for my daughter too."

Jules Vasquez
"Where do you live?"

Roberto Arana
"Antelope Extension."

Jules Vasquez
"So you're registered in the Collet Division, are you a registered voter?"

Roberto Arana
"Yeah, I'm ready for both."

Jules Vasquez
"Is that what you understand? That if they get their papers, they have to vote for Ms. Dianne?"

Roberto Arana
"If she give me a hand, I vote for she."

Jules Vasquez
"How many years are you in the city?"

Lady
"I’ve only been here for two months."

Jules Vasquez
"Do you have a visa now?"

Lady
"No, no, I don’t have a visa just a passport."

Jules Vasquez
"Where do you live?"

Lady
"Antelope."

Jules Vasquez
"Will you vote in the next election?"

Lady
"Yes."

Jules Vasquez
"Are they telling you to voter for her?"

Lady
"No, no."

Jules Vasquez
"For your papers?"

Lady
"Yes for papers."

Jules Vasquez
"And what are they telling you that if you get your papers it would be to vote for her, or how?"

Lady
"No, no she hasn't told me anything."

Finnegan will keep her office open for this until tomorrow at midday - when she is sure to get another rush.

Minister of State Beverly Williams is set to appear at Swift Hall at 5:30 next week Monday.

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize