Last night on the news we told you about the Trafficking in Persons report from the US State Department which spoke about the Victims of trafficking in persons and their, quote "fear of detention or deportation (making) them reluctant to communicate with law enforcement."
Well that's just what 17 Salvadoreans may be facing. We told you about the group earlier in the week. Belize Rural police found them jammed in a van travelling between Ladyville and Gardenia. They were heading from the Western border to the north - but today they were charged, while the person smuggling them - the so-called "coyote" was set free!!
14 of them, 10 men and 4 women pled guilty to charges of failure to produce a visitor's permit when they appeared today before Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser. They were each fined $1,000 and were ordered to pay forthwith. They were told that if they were unable to pay the fine they will serve 6 months imprisonment and an order has been made for them to be deported to El Salvador after they have either paid the fine or served the time. Three minors - aged 11, 15 and 4 - weren't taken to court, and the Social Department will deal with their case.
And while they will all be sent back to Salvador - the driver of the bus, Belizean national Aniver Alvarenga gets to go home "scott free". Initially, he was charged with 14 counts of aiding and abetting immigrants to remain in Belize illegally but to everyone's surprise, the Immigration Department withdrew the charges when he appeared today before Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser. No reason was given for this.
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Last night on the news we told you about the Trafficking in Persons report from the US State Department which spoke about the Victims of trafficking in persons and their, quote "fear of detention or deportation (making) them reluctant to communicate with law enforcement."