42 year-old Maria Cruz Agueta Flores, a Salvadoran national, was arraigned
today for immigration charges when she appeared in Magistrate's Court.
Immigration officials believe that she not only was here illegally, but she
attempted to get Belizean documents for an undocumented child.
Flores was arraigned for failure to comply with a visitors permit. It was
determined that she entered Belize through the Western Border on December
12, 2009, and was issued a valid visitor's permit, which gave her until
January 4, 2012 to stay in the country legally.
She was caught yesterday trying to get a social security card and a birth
certificate for a child who immigration officials declined to confirm was
hers. The officials said that the investigation into this matter is still
in its initial stages, and they chose not to disclose certain information
freely.
Flores pleaded guilty to the charge, and Magistrate Sherigne Rodriguez
sentenced her to pay a fine of $1,000 forthwith, or spend 6 month in
prison. Additionally, Magistrate Rodriguez granted an order for her removal
from Belize after she pays the fine or serves the sentence.
On a final note, Magistrate Rodriguez asked the immigration officials if
Flores had any options available where she can become legal. The officials
then said that in the event Flores is able to pay the fine immediately, the
Senior Immigration Officer has the discretion to allow her to straighten
out her papers, but she must pay a fine of $2,500 plus an additional fee of
$150.00.
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