Cherisse Halsall is in Washington DC and she witnessed first hand through all of today's inaugural activities. Last night in an exclusive interview with the US Ambassador to the United States she asked him about the prospect of more Belizeans being deported:...
Cherisse Halsall:
"What kind of intelligence does the embassy have about the number of Belizeans flagged for deportation?"
Lynn Young, Belize Ambassador to the United States And to the Organization of American States
"Well, the reality is that deportations are already happening frequently, and it's something that continues. The new administration has stated they intend to step it up, but we've been through this before. During the Obama years, President Biden eased up on deportations initially, but towards the end of his term, he intensified the immigration crackdown."
"Whenever ICE is deporting someone, we receive the papers, process them, and prepare for their return to Belize. There has been an increase in deportation cases over the past few months. Will this trend escalate under the new administration? Probably."
"However, I'd venture to say that we've managed this before, and I believe Belize has the structures in place to handle these issues."
"Not all deportees are criminals; some are individuals who simply got caught for being undocumented. When they return home, they restart their lives with whatever resources they've accumulated here. My sense is that while the effects on Belize may not be as dire as some fear, it's still too early to tell. It remains to be seen how these policies will unfold, and honestly, Cherisse, it's anybody's guess at this time."
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