7,000 Applications for Amnesty Program So Far

Gilroy Middleton

During today’s press conference, News Five asked about the status of the Amnesty Program 2022. There are an estimated sixty thousand unregulated migrants living in Belize. The process so far has identified that majority are located in Cayo District, followed by Belize City and then Dangriga and Toledo. To date, approximately ten percent of this vulnerable population has applied. Here’s that update.

Dr. Gilroy Middleton, C.E.O., Ministry of Immigration

“To my recollection, we were looking at a total of six thousand plus individuals that would include applicants and their dependents who would be a spouse or a child in terms of the raw numbers so it is approximately seven thousand. Thus far, we have gotten some three thousand applications. So the way it worked out, the first month would have the highest concentration so almost fifty percent of the total appointments were made in the first month of August. So the way it looks now it will be September October November we have fifty percent of the applicants will be slated for that time. So the first month was chaotic and now it is easing down s noted will be some ten percent of the total estimated numbers.”

Diana Locke

Diana Locke, Head, International Organization for Migration

“We are also seeing large numbers in Toledo. The ones in Toledo actually are people who have grown Belizean children, many grown Belizean children, but they’ve actually lived in the country for many years.  Because of the challenges they have coming in to get their documents prepared, they just haven’t bothered so this is one of the reasons, but definitely Cayo is the largest. We’ve had like four thousand consultations with persons and that’s through our mobile hub. Through our migrant resource center, which is also indicated in our work plan, they continue to see on a daily basis persons who are coming in every day whether by appointments or walk-in to help people who are interested in applying for the amnesty.”