On a Saturday in Chicago, Illinois, hundreds of Belizeans living across the United States gathered for a one-of-a-kind event: a mobile diaspora clinic hosted by Belize’s Ministry of Immigration. Designed to deliver critical government services directly to Belizean communities living thousands of miles from their home country, the clinic eliminated the need for costly, time-consuming travel back to Belize to handle passport renewals, nationality applications, and other immigration documentation. By the end of the day, more than 300 people had accessed the clinic’s services, and what many expected to be a routine administrative stop turned into an unexpected, joyful reunion with fellow Belizean expatriates.
For many attendees, the clinic represented far more than just convenience—it was a chance to strengthen their connection to Belize and pass that cultural and legal ties down to the next generation. Emil Bevans, who has lived in the U.S. for nearly 15 years, described his experience at the clinic as 100% positive, noting that the services made it easier for him to reconnect with his roots and prepare for a return to his home soil. Gloria Alfaro, a Belizean-born U.S. resident, attended the clinic to secure nationality documentation for her daughter, with plans to complete the same process for her son to ensure both children hold Belizean citizenship. Another younger attendee shared that he came to the clinic to finalize his paperwork in advance of a planned move to Belize to join his mother, who has long dreamed of relocating back to her hometown of Succotz.
Families traveled hundreds of miles across state lines to take advantage of the rare on-site services. Philip Johnson and his family made the trip from Jacksonville, North Carolina, to renew his daughter Cataleya’s passport and secure Belizean nationality for his son Nigel. Johnson praised the clinic’s team for their efficient, friendly work, saying his family deeply appreciated the effort to bring services directly to the diaspora. Anthony Staine, another attendee, emphasized that the mobile clinic has simplified the process of securing dual citizenship and documentation for U.S.-based Belizeans and their descendants far beyond what is possible when applying from abroad through traditional channels. “This process has been so much easier than trying to do it in Belize itself, and I’m so thankful,” Staine said.
Even long-time expatriates who left Belize shortly after independence found the clinic accessible and straightforward. Eleanor Gallego, who left Belize (then still British Honduras) in 1981, the year the country gained independence, held an old British Honduras passport and needed to update her documentation. She said she was surprised by how simple and convenient the entire process was at the Chicago clinic.
The clinic published clear, transparent pricing for all services: first-time passport issuance and renewals cost $250 U.S. dollars, while replacement of lost passports is priced at $300 U.S. dollars. This report is a transcript of an original televised newscast, with Kriol-language quotes rendered in standard spelling for accessibility. The full broadcast is available to view via the original publication’s portal.