Belize has received its first asylum seeker under a bilateral agreement with the United States (U.S.). Under the agreement, Belize may accept asylum seekers transferred from the U.S. while their claims are being processed. If an asylum seeker is deemed to pose a threat to national security, Belize has the authority to deny entry. Belize’s asylum system remains relatively small, with approximately 2,300 refugees and asylum seekers, most originating from neighboring Central American countries. Since the government’s 2022 amnesty program, approximately 500 of more than 12,000 applicants have been granted legal status, including over 700 asylum seekers who applied for regularization.