Guatemalans arrested for illegal entry

In related news, a Belize Defense Force patrol has captured a large group of Guatemalans who illegally entered Belize. According to reports, around two thirty this morning the patrol was near the border in the Orange Walk district when they found eighteen Guatemalans who had just crossed over. The group was immediately detained and taken to the Orange Walk Police Station. Minister of Immigration and National Security Jorge Espat says he doesn’t know why they came to Belize but they will be deported as quickly as possible.

Jorge Espat, Minister of National Security and Immigration

“I believe we’re still trying to discern that but we do have the perennial difficulty on our borders where we have illegal settlements, illegal farming and illegal entry into Belize. That’s why we have to monitor our borders to prevent illegal settlements and encroachments and again we try to avoid the clogging at the prison, so what we would do is deport them. It is much easier when you have citizens from neighboring countries whether they are Mexicans, Guatemalans or Honduras…it’s easier to go to the border, put them across the border and I believe that is what will happen this morning after they’ve been processed.”

News Five tried to get more details about the incident from the Immigration Department but the Director was unavailable for comment this afternoon.