26 year-old Evelyn Solis, a Honduran National, who has been living in Belize for 3 years now, has been ordered by the courts to be deported back to her country of origin, even though she now has a Belizean child.
Yesterday morning, at around 10, Solis was caught by immigration officials on a Hattieville bus heading to Belize. When she was asked to present her travel documents, she wasn't in possession of her passport or her visitor's permit.
Immigration Officials took her into custody and it was determined she has been here since February 24, 2009. She entered Belize through the Big Creek Port, and was granted a valid permit to stay until March 11, 2010.
As a result of her over-extended stay, she was charged with the offense of failure to comply with a visitor's permit, and she was brought before Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer today.
Solis pleaded guilty to the charge but she made a mitigation plea that she has two children, one of Honduran nationality, and another Belizean Nationality. According to her, that's the reason why she is still in Belize
Senior Magistrate Frazer informed her that having a Belizean child is not sufficient enough a reason to violate her permit.
As per the law, Senior Magistrate Frazer sentenced her to pay a fine of $1,000 forthwith or spend 6 months in prison if she defaults.
The Senior Magistrate also granted a removal order from the Immigration Department, which ensures that after Solis has paid her fine - or she has spent the 6 months - she will be deported.
It is notable that she was asked in court why she never took advantage of the naturalization rush last month. She responded saying that she didn't have quote, "the support needed". Unquote.
When the removal order is executed, it is unclear about what the status of her Belizean-born child will be.
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