Nearly nine months after formalizing a controversial Third Safe Country agreement with the United States, the Central American nation of Belize has marked a major milestone in the implementation of the policy: it has welcomed its first asylum seeker under the pact. The individual, a Haitian national, arrived in the country several weeks ago and has now begun the multi-step process of integrating into Belizean society, according to senior government officials.
The bilateral agreement, signed by the Belizean and U.S. governments in October 2025, designates Belize as a third safe destination where asylum seekers intercepted while attempting to reach the United States can be relocated to have their claims processed. While the Belizean Ministry of Foreign Affairs holds lead negotiating and coordination responsibility for the agreement, the country’s Ministry of Immigration and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) share on-the-ground duties for supporting arriving asylum seekers.
In a public update on the policy’s first active case, Belize’s Immigration Minister Kareem Musa outlined the critical role his department plays in the process. “Our refugee department, along with the UNHCR, are responsible for integrating those individuals into society, providing shelter for them, providing food for them, helping them to get on their feet with the different process and integrating into the Belizean society,” Musa explained.
Musa also detailed the vetting framework laid out in the official memorandum of understanding (MOU) governing the agreement, which gives Belize full authority to reject any relocated asylum seeker based on national security priorities. Under the terms of the pact, U.S. authorities provide Belize with 72 hours advance notice before any asylum seeker is relocated by flight. During that window, Belizean officials conduct a full background check to screen for potential risks. If authorities identify any concerns about an individual, the government retains the explicit right to deny entry and landing permission to the asylum seeker, Musa confirmed.