The United States deported 135 migrants, including 65 minors, to Costa Rica on Thursday, as part of an ongoing effort to manage the flow of migrants. The flight departed from San Diego, California, and landed at a base near Juan Santamaria International Airport in Costa Rica, as confirmed by an AFP journalist.
The deportees, who come from various countries, were transferred by bus from San José, Costa Rica’s capital, to a migrant facility located approximately 360 kilometers (224 miles) from the city, near the border with Panama. The Costa Rican government confirmed that all 65 children on the flight were accompanied by a relative, and none of the deportees had a criminal record.
The group of migrants included individuals from diverse nations, such as Afghanistan, China, Iran, Russia, Armenia, Georgia, Vietnam, Jordan, Kazakhstan, and Ghana.
Costa Rica, along with Panama and Guatemala, has agreed to temporarily house migrants expelled by the United States until they are repatriated to their countries of origin or moved to other host nations. Just last week, 299 deported migrants arrived in Panama, and about 100 of them were transferred to the San Vicente refugee camp in Meteti, located in the remote Darien jungle province.
The ongoing deportations highlight the broader regional cooperation among Central American countries to manage the complex issue of migration and provide temporary shelter for those being expelled from the United States.
