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U.S. and Belize Sign Contentious “Safe Third Country” Asylum Agreement

Belize City, Belize – The Trump administration has finalized a “safe third country” agreement with Belize, allowing the U.S. to transfer asylum seekers to the Central American nation. The deal, signed Monday, is the latest in a series of controversial efforts by the U.S. to limit asylum applications and expand deportation efforts.

The Belize government defended the agreement, stating it’s “grounded in the commitment of states to cooperate under the 1951 UN Convention on the Status of Refugees” and reinforces international law while ensuring national safeguards. The U.S. State Department praised the agreement as a crucial step in curbing illegal immigration and addressing asylum system abuses.

“Safe third country” agreements have faced strong criticism for potentially endangering asylum seekers by sending them to countries where their safety and rights aren’t guaranteed. While Belize emphasized it will receive financial and technical assistance to bolster its asylum and border management policies, details regarding the agreement’s implementation remain unclear. Belize also stated it maintains an “absolute veto over transfers,” including limitations on nationalities and a cap on transferees, and said comprehensive security screenings would be carried out.

This deal is part of a broader Trump administration strategy to deport migrants to third-party countries, with nearly a dozen countries already agreeing to accept deportees with no prior ties to those nations. Critics argue that such agreements undermine international humanitarian law by allowing wealthier countries to evade their responsibility to protect asylum seekers.

Opposition figures in Belize have expressed concerns about the country’s capacity to provide adequate care and protection for asylum seekers. Tracy Taegar Panton, an opposition leader, questioned whether Belize even qualifies as a “safe third country,” citing understaffed and underfunded immigration and asylum systems. She cautioned against Belize becoming a “dumping ground” for individuals other countries refuse to accept.

The agreement still requires approval from the Belize Senate before it can be implemented.

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