MEXICO CITY 

Belize signed on Tuesday a “Safe Third Country” agreement with the US, agreeing to accept immigrants deported from the US

The US Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs congratulated the Belizean government on US social media platform X.

“Thank you to the Government of Belize for signing a Safe Third Country Agreement—an important milestone in ending illegal immigration, shutting down abuse of our nation's asylum system, and reinforcing our shared commitment to tackling challenges in our hemisphere together,” it wrote.

The Central American nation between Mexico and Guatemala serves as a key transit point for regional migration, and now joins other Latin American countries backing US President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. 

Belize opposition leader Tracy Taegar Panton criticized the agreement, stating that the country is not prepared to handle a surge of asylum seekers. 

“Belize’s immigration and asylum departments remain understaffed, underfunded, and ill-equipped to adequately process, monitor, and support asylum seekers,” she said in a statement.​​​​​​​

In August, Washington signed a similar agreement with Paraguay, requiring asylum seekers to request refuge there before seeking entry into the US.