Salvadoran man remanded for immigration offense

Christian Leonardo Alvarenga

A Salvadoran national who has been living in Belize illegally had to spend the weekend in lockdown after he was busted while hanging out with a group of men on Friday. This morning, Christian Leonardo Alvarenga, was before the court for being deemed a prohibited immigrant.  The twenty-two year old was detained in Hattieville and appeared before Magistrate Hettie Mae-Stewart this morning.  He wasted no time and pleaded guilty to the charge of being Deemed a Prohibited Immigrant.  He was fined one thousand dollars, but was unable to meet bail, so he was escorted to the Belize Central prison to serve a six-month term.  A removal order has been granted and he will be sent home upon completion of his prison term. On Friday morning, Alvarenga was among a group of men who were searched by police. He could not produce any documents on his status in Belize so he was handed over to the Immigration Department. Although he pleaded guilty to the offense, Alvarenga told the court that he had been getting a monthly extension from now deceased Immigration Officer, Carlos Amaya, but he had no proof to show the court.