2 illegal Guatemalans; guilty as prohibited immigrants

Jorge Esmundo Ochoa

The problem of illegal immigration does not only refer to human trafficking to the United States, it also includes migrant workers who are looking for a decent life in Belize. Two Guatemalans who were found without legal documents at a construction site off the Phillip Goldson Highway were today deemed prohibited immigrants, fined one thousand dollars and each and ordered to leave the country. Twenty-eight year old Carlos Lopez and thirty-seven year old Jorge Ochoa appeared before Magistrate Hettie Mae Stewart today, and after checks at the border showed no legal form of entry, they were charged for being prohibited immigrants. Both men pleaded guilty and were fined one thousand dollars, in default six months imprisonment. By three this evening, Lopez was able to pay his fine and was served with an order to leave. Ochoa was unable to pay and was taken to the Belize Central Prison where he will serve six months.