It's not just you. Belize is just one of many countries who receive deportations from the US - unfortunately, this is often after receiving gang training in LA or some other city.
Did I read this correctly? Liz and Alan are blaming the US for the high crime rates in other countries, because the US deports criminals back to their home countries? That's laughable.
I didn't blame anyone. I am stating a fact. The U.S. has a special program to target gang members for deportation whether or not they are suspected of any crime. Some of these people were brought illegally to the US at a VERY young age. Some are hardened criminals already and others become more hardened when sent back to a country they have never known.
You can laugh if you want, but it isn't rocket science. It even happened to Belize Prime Minister's son who had left Belize when he was 13. link
More on the issue the article states: "U.S. deportation policies aggressively send undocumented gang members back to their home countries in Central America. They export U.S. gang culture and hardened criminals to countries whose internal security forces are ill-equipped to deal with the new threat. The street gangs have rapidly grown beyond being just a neighborhood problem to presenting a real national security threat in these countries."
It is a complex issue with no easy answers.
US deportation definitely had a strong hand in the start of the Mara Salvatruches, who are by far the most dominant gang in El Salvador and now have dominant presence in Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The organization was essentially founded by its leader while he was doing time in Pelican Bay, and knew he was going to be deported at the end of his prison term. He apparently laid the groundwork to the organization from his prison cell.
But what lizandalan don't get or didn't clearly point out is that there is NO US gang culture. Gangs exist in EVERY civilized country in the world. Criminal enterprise tends to steer toward organization and feeds on disenchanted or youths who have no sense of hope or future OTHER than being in a gang. This is not something that exists only in the US, not by a longshot. The other part of the equation is the utter lack of law enforcement in the countries where this kind of gang activity breeds. It's definitely complicated, that's for sure.
I might be one of the few who live here to respond to this posting. Crime in Belize City has gotten worse and more brazen since the recession and many of the perpetrators are people deported from the US, as they should be. Belize would do the same with a US citizen convicted of a violent crime. But we are wholly unprepared to deal with these sociopaths returned to our streets, even if rehab were a solution or option. Good Belize people are concerned and pushing for measures to ensure better security. That being said, I live here (in both Belize City and in Placencia), travel around freely and am in the tourims biz, and book hundreds of visitors into the country each year, all of them report feeling a very comfortable degree of personal safety and none of whom have been affected by crime. We are a small country trying to grapple with issues other countries with more resources do not yet have a formula with which to solve. But we keep trying. Stay out of Belize City or use ground transport while traveling around in the city.
the news in the last few days is littered with shootings, murders and ... bus robberies with guns and grenades ?? you have to be kidding me that anyone can feel safe down there. especially considering the rampant corruption on all levels...
Ervin "Beans" James Gunned Down in Ross Penn Road Attack
Two young men were gunned down in the city last night. They were killed less than half hour apart and both on the southside – within a few blocks of each other. Close areas,...
http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=16655 - April 9, 2010
A Second Reneau Brother Gunned Down
In our first segment we told you about the murder of Ervin James. Less than 30 minutes after that slaying – police rushed to the corner of Supal Street and Kut Avenue where ...
http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=16656 - April 9, 2010
3 Minors Shot on West Canal
So there were two murders in the city last night – but the first shooting happened around six in an alley at the corner of Rocky Road and West Canal. Over the years, it̵...
http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=16657 - April 9, 2010
Argument Results in Shooting Outside Kevin's Bar
And there’s still another pair of shootings to report –the first one happened early in the morning – after two men had already been murdered. At 1:30 am, 28 year ...
http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=16658 - April 9, 2010
Bus Passengers Kill Grenade Bandit
There were two murders over the weekend – including the shooting death of a 16 year old minor last night in Roaring Creek and the execution of a 24 year old car dealer in th...
http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=16666 - April 12, 2010
Gunmen Execute Car Dealer Kashif Jeffries
And while the good guys had the upper hand out west, in Belize City, the bad guys won again as a young car dealer was executed. Kashif Jeffries – the 24 year old son of veter...
http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=16667 - April 12, 2010
5 Inmates Escape from Central Prison
There was another murder this weekend – on Roaring Creek were a 15 year old was murdered. We’ll have that shortly, but first, disturbing news about 5 men who’ve esc...
http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=16668 - April 12, 2010
16 year old Raheem Velasquez Gunned Down in Roaring Creek
The weekend’s other murder occurred last night in Roaring Creek Village. 16 year old Raheem Velasquez and he is 16 – not 15 as police reported - was shot multiple times i...
http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=16669 - April 12, 2010
Camalote Villager Killed in San Pedro Robbery Attempt
And the weekend’s final killing was not a murder, rather it has the appearances of a case of self defence. Here’s what happened: On Saturday night, at 9:00, San Pedro res...
http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=16670 - April 12, 2010
Fatal Accident on Lemonal Road
There was also a fatal accident this weekend. It happened on Saturday afternoon at around 3:00 on the Lemonal Road. The chain of events that led to the death was set in motion when 4...
http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=16671 - April 12, 2010
3 Injured in Weekend Shootings
There were a number of shootings in the city this weekend as gunshots were heard in many neighbourhoods. Two of the most serious happened yesterday. In the first which happened at 1:14 ...
http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=16672 - April 12, 2010
Ernie Miranda Charged for Chon Saan Robbery Attempt
Another man was charged today in connection with the Chon Saan attempted robbery and the police sting operation. Ernie Miranda one of the three men who were allegedly caught on their...
http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=16673 - April 12, 2010
Teenager Charged for Attempted Robbery at Accents
He is the 17 year old who was seen on the ground with gunshot wounds in front of the Holy Redeemer gate on March 25th. And today that minor was charged for the March 25th robbery a...
http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=16674 - April 12, 2010