And while the immigration and police team netted a major bust for immigration fraud, they weren’t so lucky on the human trafficking front. The human trafficking dragnet started to sweep across the City sometime after 8 last night and when it was done, dozens of Central American waitresses, Chinese restaurant workers and other workers had been taken in to the Community Rehabilitation Bureau. That’s where they were asked if they had been the victims of human trafficking. And for all those detentions, so far, there has been no announcement of any restaurant or bar owner successfully charged for human trafficking.
One man caught in the middle of it was Moncho Galvez. He owns the popular MJ’s Bars. Last night he was at home when he got the call that police and immigration personnel were shutting his bars down and taking in his waitresses for questioning. He rushed to MJ’s on West Collet Canal, only to find that he too was being taken in as a suspected human trafficker. He told us his story.
Moncho Galvez, MJ's Owner
“By the time I got here my place was already locked up and two immigration officers and some police officers were waiting for me outside. So when I come I asked them what happened. One of the officers told me I am being detained for human trafficking. So I said but human trafficking, who is human trafficking – I have a legitimate business; everybody has their work permit to work. I am not human trafficking, I am a legitimate businessman for 27 years doing this type of business.”
Jules Vasquez,
But you were targeted for human trafficking because the women who work in this establishment are young Central American women and they are often the targets of human trafficking.
Moncho Galvez,
“Yes I believe that is why they come but then I have an Orange Walk girl who works with me too, a Belizean, and a next guy who has his passport and everything and even them they took.”
Jules Vasquez,
What did they ask you?
Nelda Velasquez, Waitress – MJ’s
“They just asked me if I my boss treat me good, if he has my papers, if he abuse we or something like
that.”
Jules Vasquez,
And what was your answer?
Nelda Velasquez,
“I tell them no. I work because I have to work. Nobody forces me to work and then I have residency.”
Jules Vasquez,
You think this is just harassment because you are a Central American woman?
Nelda Velasquez,
“Yap because they have no business to do what they were doing. That is an abuse.”
Moncho Galvez,
“The harassment, they close down your business. They made me lose money last night. (It was) lot of scenery and made us lose business. People passed by your business and see police taking your people, see you in the back of a pickup truck – the first thing people will say is that they ketch Galvez; Galvez must do something wrong. People look at these things and then it looks bad on you as a businessman. I am a legitimate business, my people have work permit. I do not employ people without work permits or residency or passports.”
Jules Vasquez,
Do you traffic in persons?
Moncho Galvez,
“No, I don’t even know what that. I don’t want that.”
Jules Vasquez,
Well it would mean that you hold on to their work permits, you hold on to their passports and tell them, if you don’t work here and if you don’t do x y and z, I will keep these things. Do you do that?
Moncho Galvez,
“No I do not do that.”
Jules Vasquez,
Now your sister’s place was also raided.
Moncho Galvez,
“Yes exactly Lion King.”
Jules Vasquez,
And were any of her people victims of human trafficking?
Moncho Galvez,
”No and over there she has more, it is Hispanic people but they are from Corozal and Orange Walk and they took all of them too. They took all the Belizeans; everybody. As long you looked Spanish, they gaan with you.”
Jules Vasquez,
But she has not only Spanish people working.
Moncho Galvez,
“No she has Belize working, Creole people working.”
Jules Vasquez,
But they weren’t taken?
Moncho Galvez,
“No, the Creole people they left them there. So my little sister had to ask them if you have to be black to Belizean. It is like they are trying to put black against Spanish. I don’t know what these guys are doing.”
The MJ’s waitresses were released at 3:00 am.
