Mexican National Remanded for Illegal Entry

Francisco Andremar Rojas Juarez

A Mexican national, who says he is from Playa Del Carmen, Quintano Roo, was caught at the Belize side of the border just minutes after he reportedly paid one hundred and fifty dollars for a canoe to bring him across.  The case made against the Mexican national is that he entered Belize illegally, but thirty-three year old Francisco Andremar Rojas Juarez says not so and he will go to trial to prove his case.  This afternoon, Rojas, who was detained on Tuesday in Corozal, appeared before Magistrate Dale Cayetano and was read a single charge of Illegal Entry. He is accused of contravening the Immigration Act, by entering Belize via the banks of the Rio Hondo and remaining in Belize.  Rojas, who spoke little English, was provided with a translator in court. After he pleaded not guilty to the offense, prosecutor for the Immigration Department, Albert Munnings, objected to bail on the grounds that Rojas is not a Belizean, has no travel documents and is a flight risk. But Rojas told the court he arrived via Botes where he was not asked for any documents.  Magistrate Cayetano remanded Rojas to the Belize Central Prison until December sixteenth, 2014. Rojas claims he is a promoter of night clubs and lives in Playa Del Carmen.