Costa Rica's government welcomed its first group of primarily Asian migrants deported from the United States on Thursday, as part of an agreement with Washington to temporarily accommodate up to 200 deportees from various countries.
These deportations are a component of U.S. President Donald Trump's initiative to combat illegal migration, which includes an increasing number of flights to nations cooperating with the U.S. on the international repatriations.
The most recent group of deported migrants was transported from San Diego to Costa Rica's capital, San Jose, and then further to a migrant shelter near the border with Panama.
These migrants will be permitted to stay in Costa Rica for one month, during which officials will facilitate their voluntary return to their respective home countries, stated Deputy Security Minister Omer Badilla to reporters at San Jose airport.
Badilla mentioned, "Most of them want to return to their countries," noting that those who choose not to will have their cases handled individually.
The deported group, consisting of family units, originated from Uzbekistan, China, Armenia, Turkey, Afghanistan, Russia, Georgia, Vietnam, Azerbaijan, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, and Ghana.
Under the recent agreement, President Rodrigo Chaves disclosed on Wednesday that up to 200 migrants from other nations, deported by the U.S., are expected in Costa Rica due to the threat of U.S. tariffs on Costa Rican exports.
Simultaneously, U.S. authorities ordered the transfer of individuals from Guantanamo Bay to Honduras on Thursday, who will subsequently be sent to Venezuela.
Concurrently, the Panamanian government reported that three migrants received from the U.S. had requested asylum and could potentially be resettled in other countries like Canada.