TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS IN BELIZE - OAS

position is extremely vulnerable to pressures. It is, hence, not always possible
to find the right person within the civil servants.
Nowadays, the department has 60 immigration officers and around 37
administrative and supporting posts. This is not near enough if we take into
account that this staff is in charge of seven entrance posts (Belize Airport, San
Pedro, Belize City Seaport, Santa Elena, Punta Gorda, Dangriga and Benque)
and two immigration desks in Orange Walk and Corozal. In addition to this, they
must control border areas, passport issue and travel permits to nearby cities
such as Chetumal and Bacalar in Mexico.
When situations of human trafficking occur they are also dealt with by the same
staff, there isn’t a tactical unit specialized in land control and able to respond
quickly to irregularity reports. Highway controls on unusual geographical spots,
generated the arrest of over 40 daily arrests; however these procedures have
been interrupted due to lack of staff to perform them.
Actions in coordination with the Police have been undertaken as well as with the
Department of Customs and Excise that is under the Finance area of the
Ministry.
Authorities from the Immigration Department say that “the geographical
characteristics of the landscape make it very easy to reach the United States
from Belize. It’s an open and depopulated land, difficult to control and with not
enough human and material resources”.
Most of the reported illegal migrants come from Guatemala and Honduras to
work in the northern plantations of Belize and in the bananas and citrus
plantations of the southern region.
The Immigration Department also informed that a visa is required from those
who come from El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras, work permits are given
out for a number of industries and it is possible that many people enter the
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