BELMOPAN, Belize– Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser has issued removal orders for 16 Cuban nationals who illegally entered the country last Thursday.
The Cuban nationals, without passports, claimed they were seeking asylum in the Cayman Islands but accidentally ended up in Belize when their boat ran out of gas and drifted ashore after experiencing bad weather.
But, the Chief Magistrate questioned how these Cubans could travel from home to another country without passports.
Attorney Orson “OJ” Elrington, who represented nine Cubans, asked the magistrate to use her discretion and not impose a prison term against them, arguing that there was not enough evidence to prove that they came to Belize intentionally.
Two men among them pleaded guilty, while the remaining seven said they were unsure how to plea. One Cuban informed Magistrate Frazer that while they did not come to Belize with any passports, they did not want to go to Belize.
However, one of the Cubans, a woman, changed her story and claimed that they were seeking asylum in Belize. In contrast, two others claimed their documents were left in the Cayman Islands after being denied asylum.
The second set of Cubans was unrepresented. After the Immigration Department told the court they were not seeking a fine against the Cubans, Chief Magistrate Fraser used her discretion and did not find them.
She, however, ordered that they be sent back home. One defendant asked the Chief Magistrate if he could pay a fine and continue his journey, but she told them that a removal order meant they must return to their country of origin.
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