Group of Immigrants from Uzbekistan, China, Afghanistan, Russia, and Other Countries Arrives in Costa Rica

A group of immigrants, including families and children from Uzbekistan, China, Afghanistan, Russia, and other countries, has arrived in Costa Rica from the United States. This marks the first group of foreign nationals whom Costa Rica has agreed to hold in detention centers under the Trump administration’s policies, until their return arrangements to their respective home countries are completed.

According to the Associated Press (AP), of the 135 immigrants, half are minors. Costa Rica is acting as a temporary stopover for migrants as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to accelerate deportation operations. Costa Rica, along with Panama, will detain immigrants from Asian countries until their return arrangements are made or provide them with asylum opportunities.

Honduras has also facilitated the transfer of American and Venezuelan migrants coming from Guantanamo Bay to other countries. The arriving migrants in Costa Rica will be moved to a rural detention center near the Panama border, where they will remain in detention for six weeks before being deported to their home countries. The Vice Minister of the Interior of Costa Rica has confirmed that the U.S. government will bear the costs of these arrangements.

This arrangement is part of a deal made earlier this month during U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Costa Rica. Under this deal, President Trump has pressured regional countries to assist in deportation efforts, threatening heavy taxes or sanctions if they do not comply.

Similar agreements have been made with other Latin American countries, but the idea of using third countries as deportation stopovers has been heavily criticized by human rights advocates. Panama became the first country this week to accept 299 immigrants from various nations, who were held under police surveillance in hotel rooms. One-third of these individuals, who did not agree to return to their home countries, were sent to a remote camp in Panama’s Darien province near the Colombian border. The remaining individuals are waiting for flights to return to their home countries.