7 News Belize

150 Guatemalan Workers Without Work Permits Turned Back
posted (August 16, 2016)
In other Immigration news, the Department put down the hard line yesterday and turned back 150 Guatemalan workers. These persons cross daily from Melchor into Belize without hindrance, but for a month they have been warned that they have to get, or show a work permit. Yesterday was the deadline, and those who did not have a permit to show were turned back.

We're told that they returned back to Melchor very upset that they were not being allowed into Belize, and an impromptu protest was to have taken place. It didn't but local reports suggest that they have approached the Melchor Mayor to have him intercede on their behalf. Since then, a number of them have realized the Belizean law is not on their side, and they have moved to get work permits. The other side of this story is that many of them have work permits but they don't want to use it because that would mean getting their passports stamped, which would disqualify them from earning permanent residence status which requires un-interrupted residence in Belize.

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize