The Government of the United States, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Belize hosted two Mobile Migrant Hubs in Toledo to provide information and services to migrants for safe and orderly migration. United States Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Keith Gilges attended and spoke at the Migrant Hub in San Antonio. Also in attendance at the ceremony was Hon. Oscar Requena, Area Representative for the Toledo West Constituency and Minister of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labor and Local Development.
“We, at the U.S. Embassy and at the highest levels of the U.S. government, believe that people should have a safe and dignified migration experience, whether you are a Belizean citizen returning to your community or you have migrated here from somewhere else and want to have legal status to work, to study, or have access to basic services,” said Chargé Gilges.
The Mobile Migrant Hubs offer a single location for information and services benefitting migrants and Belize citizens, such as facilitating the process to obtain foreign national documents for migrants, who meet the requirements to be regularized in Belize, applications for work permits, birth certificates and other documents.
In February and March 2021, IOM Belize and USAID in partnership with UNICEF, UNFPA, and UNHCR, had three successful Mobile Migrant Hubs that provided immigration information, and social services to 527 migrants in the communities of Bella Vista, Valley of Peace, and Benque Viejo Del Carmen Town. USAID and IOM have expanded the Mobile Migrant Hubs across Belize.
These Mobile Migrant Hubs are part of activities under USAID and IOM’s five-year Integrated Responses on Migration from Central America regional program covering six Central American countries with a total budget of $33.7 million. The American people are proud to support these vital efforts for a dignified and safe return and integration of migrants.
Watch for our Mobile Hubs in these locations, states the release:
May 15 & May 16 Placencia; June 12 Corozal; June 13 Orange Walk; June 26 San Pedro; July 17 Belize City; August 14 Dangriga.