Chief Magistrate of Belize, Sharon Fraser has issued removal orders for 16 Cuban nationals, who illegally entered the country last Thursday.
The Cubans, who were 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 their homes to another country without any passports.
Attorney Orson “OJ” Elrington, who represented nine of the 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 not sure how to plea. One Cuban informed Magistrate Frazer that while they did not come to Belize with any passports they also did not want to come to Belize.
However, one of the Cubans, a woman, changed her story and claimed they were seeking asylum in Belize, while two others claimed that their documents were left in the Cayman Islands after they were 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 fine 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 means they must return to their country of origin.
CMC/
