Introduction
Belize, a small and peaceful country nestled in Central America, has faced an alarming surge in crime and violence over the past few decades. One of the key factors contributing to this rise is the Repatriation Agreement between Belize and the United States. This agreement, which allows the U.S. to deport immigrants convicted in state courts back to their country of origin, has had devastating consequences for Belize. The deportation of hardened criminals—often individuals who have spent the majority of their lives in the U.S. and have been shaped by the American criminal justice system—has overwhelmed a country unprepared to handle such individuals. This situation is not unique to Belize; El Salvador’s crisis with gang violence, largely fueled by similar U.S. deportations, serves as a stark warning of what can happen when small countries are forced to deal with the aftermath of America’s tough-on-crime policies.
Understanding the Repatriation Agreement
The Repatriation Agreement between Belize and the United States is a product of U.S. immigration policies that aim to remove non-citizens who have committed crimes on American soil. While the intent of these policies is to enhance national security and reduce crime within the United States, they have far-reaching and often catastrophic consequences for countries like Belize. Under this agreement, individuals who were convicted of crimes in the U.S. and served their sentences are deported back to Belize, regardless of whether they have any meaningful connection to the country.
In many cases, these deportees have spent the majority of their lives in the United States, becoming deeply entrenched in criminal lifestyles and gang culture. Upon their return to Belize, they often struggle to reintegrate into a society they hardly know, leading to a rise in violent crime, gang activity, and overall instability.
Under the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act and the related Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the United States and Belize, certain categories of archaeological materials are restricted from being imported into the U.S. to protect Belize’s cultural heritage. This agreement, however, raises concerns when the term “cultural property” extends to include people, as it implies that individuals, particularly those deported under U.S. immigration laws, are viewed as objects of cultural exchange. This categorization reduces people to mere items of cultural significance, ignoring their inherent human rights and the complex social, legal, and personal factors surrounding their deportation. This perspective undermines the dignity and autonomy of individuals, treating them as property rather than human beings with rights and histories of their own.
Unintended Consequences of US Immigration Policy: Explaining the Post-1965 Surge from Latin America
The Impact on Belize
Belize, with its small population and limited resources, is simply not equipped to handle the influx of hardened criminals deported from the United States. The country’s law enforcement agencies are underfunded and understaffed, making it difficult to effectively monitor and rehabilitate these individuals. As a result, many deportees return to a life of crime, often bringing with them the gang affiliations and violent tendencies they acquired in the U.S.
This has contributed to a significant increase in Belize’s murder rate, which is now among the highest in the world. According to a 2021 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Belize had a homicide rate of 33.5 per 100,000 people, one of the highest in Central America. A significant portion of these crimes can be traced back to deportees who have struggled to adapt to life in Belize and have resorted to criminal activities.
Lessons from El Salvador
The situation in Belize is eerily reminiscent of the crisis that unfolded in El Salvador in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Like Belize, El Salvador received a large number of deportees from the United States, many of whom were involved in gang activities in cities like Los Angeles. These deportations, fueled by U.S. policies aimed at cracking down on crime, had a profound and devastating impact on El Salvador.
The influx of gang members from the U.S. led to the formation and growth of violent gangs like MS-13 and Barrio 18, which have since become global criminal enterprises. The violence and instability caused by these gangs plunged El Salvador into a state of crisis, leading to one of the highest murder rates in the world. In response, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has implemented a series of controversial measures, including mass incarcerations and curfews, in an attempt to regain control of the country. While these measures have been met with some success, they also highlight the severe and lasting damage that U.S. deportation policies can inflict on small, developing nations.
The Case for Rescinding the Repatriation Agreement
The Repatriation Agreement between Belize and the United States is not only detrimental to Belize’s security but also violates the principles of international law. The U.S. has a responsibility to ensure that its immigration and deportation policies do not create instability in other nations. By deporting individuals who have been shaped by the American criminal justice system back to countries like Belize, the U.S. is effectively exporting its crime problem, leaving small nations to deal with the consequences.
This practice is a clear violation of the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits the return of individuals to a country where they may face harm or persecution. While this principle is most often applied in cases of refugees and asylum seekers, it is equally relevant in situations where deportees are sent back to countries unprepared to handle their criminal backgrounds.
Furthermore, the U.S. consistently ignores the broader implications of its deportation policies, refusing to acknowledge or take responsibility for the destabilizing effects they have on countries like Belize. This is not just a matter of domestic policy; it is an international issue that requires urgent attention and action.
Conclusion
The Repatriation Agreement between Belize and the United States has had devastating consequences for Belize, contributing to a sharp rise in crime and violence. By deporting hardened criminals back to a country ill-equipped to handle them, the U.S. is exporting its crime problem and creating instability in small nations like Belize. The crisis in El Salvador, fueled by similar deportations, serves as a stark warning of what can happen when the U.S. fails to consider the international impact of its policies.
It is time for Belize to reconsider its participation in the Repatriation Agreement and to push for its rescission. The United States must be held accountable for the consequences of its deportation policies, and Belize must take steps to protect its citizens from the violence and instability these policies have caused.
This issue is not just a matter of national security for Belize; it is a matter of justice and human rights. The international community must recognize the harm caused by U.S. deportation policies and work to ensure that small nations like Belize are not left to bear the burden alone.
Until Next Time…
I Am,
Ewing Redmond Samuels III
