QCOSTARICA – Deportation will be the ultimate fate for the African migrants trying to enter Costa Rica again, warns the immigration service.
On Thursday Costa Rica returned to Panama some 200 African nationals in the country illegally, believed from Panama. The Africans were detained a the northern border with Nicaragua and returned to Paso Canoas, where Panama refused to allow them entry, leaving them in limbo.
A number of the African migrants were also found in Cuidad Neilly, a town close to the Panama border.
Kathya Rodriguez, head of immigration, warns the migrants who try to re-enter the country illegally will face deportation.
However, the immigration director admitted that the limited capacity of the country in immigration detention centres will mean a less burdensome measure, that is illegals will be asked to sign in often, instead of being held.
Rodriguez admitted that it will likely result in losing track of these people if they follow their course of making it to the northern border, for continued travel through Central America with the United States as their final destination.
In the United States, African migrants do not enjoy the privilege of the Cuban migrants, whose entry into the U.S. is almost guaranteed by way of the Cuba Adjustment Act of the 1960s.
Rodriguez said “it would be irresponsible to let them on their way knowing that the US will not let them enter.”
Costa Rica police are maintaining a strong presence at the border, to prevent migrants from entering the country. On the Panama side, reports say the army is keeping the migrants from entering their country.
A reader of the Q reports by way of Whatsapp, “now (Saturday afternoon) they got them all laying on the ground surrounded by CR cops and Panama has soldiers everywhere.”
The following images are from the Ministerio de Seguriad Publica (MSP) of their efforts, along with the Cruz Roja (Red Cross) in aid of the African migrants stranded at the southern border.
