The move comes as the Trump administration seeks alternative countries to accept migrants who cannot easily be returned to their home nations.
Costa Rica to Welcome Migrants Deported by U.S. from Central Asia and India
Costa Rica to Welcome Migrants Deported by U.S. from Central Asia and India
In a new approach to handling unauthorized migration, Costa Rica will accept 200 deported migrants from the U.S.
Costa Rica announced on Monday its commitment to receive a flight this week carrying 200 migrants from Central Asia and India who have been deported by the United States. This makes Costa Rica the second Central American country, following Panama, to allow the entry of deportees from distant regions facing immigration hurdles. These efforts reflect the Trump administration's strategy of ramping up deportations while finding other nations willing to take in migrants who have crossed into the U.S. illegally.
Just last week, Panama welcomed three deportation flights with migrants originating from Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, which indicates a growing trend among Central American nations to play a role in the U.S. immigration process. During a recent visit to Central America, Secretary of State Marco Rubio obtained commitments from multiple governments, including those of Panama and Costa Rica, to collaborate on addressing migration challenges, though details on the agreement were limited.
According to Costa Rican officials, the initial group of migrants is expected to land on Wednesday afternoon via a commercial flight. The government stated that its territory would act as a "bridge" for these migrants' return to their home countries. Notably, the repatriation costs will be covered by the U.S. government, overseen by the International Organization for Migration, a UN agency responsible for the welfare of the migrants during their transit.
Upon their arrival in San José, the capital of Costa Rica, the deportees will be taken to a migrant shelter located in the Corredores canton in the southern part of the country. However, Costa Rican officials did not specify the total number of future deportations or the duration of stay for these individuals before they are returned to their respective countries.
In recent years, Costa Rica has faced challenges of its own, dealing with a substantial influx of migrants journeying toward the U.S. border, which led to overcrowded shelters and strained resources. However, the situation has improved significantly, with numbers of migrants passing through Costa Rica declining due to stricter border controls and immigration enforcement measures implemented by the U.S., Mexico, and Panama.
Just last week, Panama welcomed three deportation flights with migrants originating from Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, which indicates a growing trend among Central American nations to play a role in the U.S. immigration process. During a recent visit to Central America, Secretary of State Marco Rubio obtained commitments from multiple governments, including those of Panama and Costa Rica, to collaborate on addressing migration challenges, though details on the agreement were limited.
According to Costa Rican officials, the initial group of migrants is expected to land on Wednesday afternoon via a commercial flight. The government stated that its territory would act as a "bridge" for these migrants' return to their home countries. Notably, the repatriation costs will be covered by the U.S. government, overseen by the International Organization for Migration, a UN agency responsible for the welfare of the migrants during their transit.
Upon their arrival in San José, the capital of Costa Rica, the deportees will be taken to a migrant shelter located in the Corredores canton in the southern part of the country. However, Costa Rican officials did not specify the total number of future deportations or the duration of stay for these individuals before they are returned to their respective countries.
In recent years, Costa Rica has faced challenges of its own, dealing with a substantial influx of migrants journeying toward the U.S. border, which led to overcrowded shelters and strained resources. However, the situation has improved significantly, with numbers of migrants passing through Costa Rica declining due to stricter border controls and immigration enforcement measures implemented by the U.S., Mexico, and Panama.
