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And while the weapons eventually make their way to Belize, many migrants travel through Central America to eventually make it to the US. The US has made a concerted effort to reduce migratory pressures at their border, and that's why they applauded Belize's amnesty program. But rather than attracting some 40,000 applicants like they were hoping for, the amnesty program fell shirt; it received about 15,000 of them. We asked the delegation today if they viewed this as a disappointment.
Mileydi Guilarte, Deputy Assistant Admin., USAID's Bureau for LAC
"We had very fruitful conversations yesterday with the foreign minister and we were noting and underscoring the importance of Belize being a partner in this shred challenge in the region as it relates to migration and I think Belize, and we communicated this, has really become a model in many ways in our region for looking for all types of solutions to integrate migrants so looking at sustainable solutions and I think this is definitely, it's in its beginning stages, we're trying to identify any gaps and challenges where we may be able to assist. I think the announcement that I made today is in support of that so no I would not say that it is in any way a failure but actually something that a lot of the neighbors in the region should see a model for looking at how to solve some of the challenges related to migration."
Cheryl Fernandes, State Department Bureau of Population & Migration
"I would complete agree with Mileydi, the amnesty program in Belize is most definitely a success in how it is rolled out, despite the fact that the initial numbers were not met. What we really aim to do is provide solutions to people in the region that are on the move, vulnerable migrants that have been forced to leave their homes, so whether that solution means finding refuge in a first country of entry, finding refuge through an amnesty program or something of that sort in another country in the area or an eventual refugee resettlement, those are all options that are provided for migrants and vulnerable people in the region."
