Belize Bows to Pressure: Signs Controversial 'Safe Third Country' Immigration Pact with U.S.

In a significant, albeit politically charged, development, Belize has officially signed a 'safe third country' asylum agreement with the United States. This move positions the small Central American nation as the fourth country in the region to accept such a pact under the Trump administration's aggressive immigration policies, designed to stem the flow of asylum seekers arriving at the U.S.

southern border.

The agreement, formally inked by Belize's Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington, signifies a pivotal shift in the country's stance on migration. Prior to this, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras had already committed to similar arrangements, despite widespread criticism from human rights organizations and concerns about their capacity to handle an influx of asylum seekers.

Under the terms of a 'safe third country' agreement, asylum seekers who pass through Belize on their way to the U.S.

can be deported back to Belize to seek refuge there instead of having their claims heard in the United States. This policy aims to offload the burden of asylum processing onto transit countries, effectively creating a buffer zone for U.S. borders.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security lauded the agreement as a crucial step in .