By Belize Live News Staff: Reports suggest that 899 Belizeans may be on an immigration watchlist for possible deportation from the United States, following a leak of a document allegedly from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The list, titled “Trump’s Deportation List,” claims to detail undocumented migrants with removal orders who are awaiting enforcement. While the validity of the document is unclear, it has caused concern among Belizean families with relatives in the U.S.
Belize’s Ambassador to the U.S. confirmed that deportations have risen sharply in recent months, with at least 139 Belizeans removed by September 2024, and the numbers have increased further since November.
If the leaked figures are accurate, many Belizeans who previously had protected status, asylum claims, or unresolved immigration cases could be at risk of removal under President Donald Trump’s aggressive new immigration policies. ICE has reportedly set a target to deport 1,875 undocumented migrants per day.
The Belize government is expected to issue a statement in response to the reports, as the country braces for a potential influx of returnees in the coming months.
