Belize has received a total of eight asylum seekers under its Safe Third Country Agreement with the United States. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, most are Haitian nationals, along with nationals from other Central American countries. On August 5th, the ministry indicated that the process was continuing but did not confirm whether additional asylum seekers were expected to arrive in the country.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honorable Francis Fonseca, described the arrangement as complementary to Belize’s existing refugee and asylum system. “As you know, we receive individuals seeking refuge, seeking amnesty from Central America all the time, several hundred every year,” Fonseca said. “We see this as an addition, supplementing, complementing that program, and so far, it has been going very well.”
The agreement, formally known as the Agreement for Cooperation Regarding the Examination of Protection Requests, was signed between Belize and the United States in October 2025. Fonseca reiterated that Belize retains the authority to deny the transfer of individuals deemed a threat to public safety or national security.
When asylum seekers arrive in Belize, the Ministry of Immigration oversees the process. As previously explained by Minister Kareem Musa, the Refugees Department, along with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), assists asylum seekers with integrating into Belizean society.
Members of the Opposition have raised concerns about the agreement and its potential impact on the country. Following its ratification in November 2025, Senator Gabriel Zetina expressed concern that Belize could be taking on additional immigration responsibilities without concrete guarantees of adequate resources, funding, or capacity support.
Zetina argued that the individuals transferred to Belize may require access to resources, opportunities, and essential services as they establish themselves in the country. He raised concerns about the potential demand for education, housing, and other services, stating, “That adds to our existing burden as a nation.” He further maintained that proper impact assessments and financial planning should accompany such agreements to determine the potential costs and effects on Belize.
The agreement itself provides for the possibility of the United States supplying financial and technical assistance, upon request, to strengthen Belize’s migration and asylum management system.
With the agreement now being implemented, the number of additional asylum seekers who may be transferred to Belize remains to be seen. The government has maintained that Belize retains control over proposed transfers, including security screening and the authority to reject individuals, as the country continues implementing its obligations under the agreement.