Costa Rica joins Panama and Guatemala in accepting deported migrants from the US. The first batch of 200 Indian and Central Asian nationals will arrive on Wednesday before being repatriated.
Costa Rica to Receive Indian, Central Asian Deportees from US Before Repatriation
San Jose: In a significant move following the lead of Panama and Guatemala, Costa Rica announced on Monday that it will receive illegal migrants deported from the United States, including nationals from India and Central Asia. The Costa Rican government confirmed that the first group of 200 deportees will arrive on Wednesday via a commercial flight.
According to an official statement, Costa Rica has agreed to collaborate with the United States in temporarily housing these migrants before repatriating them to their respective home countries.
Costa Rica’s Migrant Processing Plan
Upon arrival, the deportees will be transported to a Temporary Migrant Care Center near the border with Panama, where they will remain under international supervision before being sent back to their countries of origin.
The Costa Rican government emphasized that the entire repatriation process will be fully funded by the United States and conducted under the oversight of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Following Panama and Guatemala’s Model
Costa Rica becomes the third Central American nation to facilitate US deportations of non-Latin American migrants since Donald Trump took office. Panama and Guatemala had already agreed to similar arrangements following US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to the region.
Panama received its first batch of 119 deportees last week, comprising migrants from China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and other nations. Guatemala, however, has yet to receive any deportees under this program.
US Crackdown on Undocumented Migration
The US is home to an estimated 11 million undocumented migrants, many of whom have undertaken perilous journeys through treacherous terrain and criminal-infested routes in pursuit of a better life.
Since assuming office, Trump has intensified efforts to curb illegal immigration, vowing to deport “millions and millions” of undocumented migrants. On his first day in office, he declared a national emergency at the southern US border, reinforcing his administration’s stance on strict immigration enforcement.
With the US ramping up deportations, the role of Central American nations in assisting repatriation efforts is expected to grow, highlighting the complex international dynamics surrounding migration policies.