US to Deport Indian Illegal Migrants to Costa Rica
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Synopsis
The US has initiated a program to deport illegal migrants from India to Costa Rica, where they will be temporarily housed as their futures are determined. This arrangement aims to streamline the deportation process and minimize the need for large-scale detention centers within the US.
Key Takeaways
- Costa Rica will accept illegal Indian migrants deported from the US.
- The deportations commence under a US-funded program.
- Detained migrants will be housed near the Panama border.
- India agrees to take back illegal migrants and combat trafficking.
- Similar agreements exist with El Salvador, Panama, and Guatemala.
New York, Feb 18 (NationPress) The Central American nation of Costa Rica has consented to accept illegal Indian migrants being deported from the United States, establishing a pathway for determining their future.
The deportation process will commence on Wednesday as part of a US-funded initiative, with the migrants being housed in a temporary facility near the Panama border, as confirmed by President Rodrigo Chaves Robles' office.
Neither Costa Rica nor the US has specified the fate of the migrants post-detention in Costa Rica.
This arrangement allows the US to circumvent the establishment of large detention centers within its borders for migrants awaiting deportation, thus minimizing negative perceptions.
According to the President's office, "The Government of Costa Rica has agreed to partner with the United States in the repatriation of 200 illegal immigrants to their homeland," noting that deportees would include individuals from India and Central Asia.
India has committed to accepting at least 18,000 illegal migrants from the US, with Washington initiating direct deportations to India.
The third flight carrying 112 illegal migrants arrived in Amritsar on Monday.
During a recent trip to Washington, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that India is prepared to take back any verified Indian illegal migrant in the US and intends to combat human traffickers preying on vulnerable individuals.
This partnership with Costa Rica was established following Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit, aimed at securing the country's support for President Donald Trump's strict measures against illegal migration.
Similar agreements have been made with El Salvador, Panama, and Guatemala for accepting deported migrants.
Last week, illegal migrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China were sent to Panama.
The Trump administration also established a detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, where terrorists associated with the September 11 attacks are detained.
Though Guantanamo Bay is technically part of Cuba, it has been leased to the US for military purposes, limiting some legal applications as it operates as an external territory.
Costa Rica is a common transit country for illegal migrants traveling from various locations in South America, navigating through the perilous Darien Gap jungles in Panama en route to the US.
Some social media videos promoting illegal migration from India illustrate the "Donkey Route" taken by these individuals.
At a news conference in Washington last Thursday alongside Trump, PM Modi emphasized that India and the US share a mutual understanding, stating that they are fully ready to repatriate any verified Indian in the US illegally.
He called for enhanced cooperation between the US and India to dismantle trafficking networks that exploit "the young, vulnerable, poor people of India" who are deceived into illegal migration.
