Nine illegal immigrants caught by the cops

Everyday illegal immigrants from neighbouring Central American countries come to Belize to seek job opportunities and a better way of life. That dream, however, was cut short for nine individuals after a spate of police raids. On Friday, four Guatemalans, three Hondurans, and two Nicaraguans, who could not produce travelling documents, spent three days in detention after a police operation snatched them from Freetown Road, Mahogany Street Extension, and Belama Extension. It is uncertain how long they were in Belize, but when they appeared in Magistrate’s Court today, all nine: Victor Escobar, Jose Lemus, Alberto Paz, Eddie Rodolfo, Frank Zelaya, Elvin Barrera, Carlos Escobar, Oscar Rafael and Jiovanni Ramirez pled guilty to the charge of Failure to Produce a Visitor’s Permit. Magistrate Albert Hoare fined each a thousand dollars to be paid forthwith. Only Ramirez and Rodolfo were able produce the funds and were ordered to be deported to their country of origin. As for the other seven, they will serve six months behind bars and thereafter, will also be deported.