Belize’s Concerns About Migrant Caravan

Elton Bennett

The National Security Council comprised officials from the ministries of National Security, Human Development and Immigration. While some of the migrants are in search of a better life, others are known to be attached to criminal organizations. Captain Elton Bennett shared a list of concerns with migrant caravans.

Captain Elton Bennett, Commandant, Belize Coast Guard

“There is a broad range of concerns ranging from gang members. Initial intelligence indicated that there were some undesirable individuals in that group in the form of Central American gangs; that was one of the main concerns. The other issue is the large number that would present itself on our border and considering our systems that we currently have in place to deal with migration in Belize pose a challenge. And so the asylum seeking process would continue once they reach at the border and that process would then screen those individuals. But the risk there was dealing with that large number that would cross over into Belize and then eventually become Belize’s responsibility in terms of looking after the humanitarian aspect of it to ensure that they are fed and provided for basic needs and hygiene to go along with it. And then coupled with that is the resistance up north and how far they can go. So the fact that they would end up in Belize on our soil and nearest to the north not opening the borders for them to pass through meant that it could have possibly become an issue on our grounds.”