President Rodrigo Chaves assured that he understood the reasons why migrants prefer to stay in Costa Rica, but criticized the lack of collaboration with resources from organizations and the international community to be able to provide assistance. Data cited by the president indicate that there are nearly 200,000 people with requests for political refuge, which gives them the right – while the process is being carried out – to stay in the country and look for work.
The President of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Chavessaid on Wednesday, November 16, that his government will begin to evaluate possible measures to meet the requests for refuge that have been increasing in the country due to the Central American migratory flow.
In a press conference after the Governing Council, Chaves indicated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will send a letter to the United Nations coordinator in Costa Rica, since it considers that the political refugee regime is being used by migrants in a incorrect.
«Costa Rica is a noble country, which has opened its arms, hearts, its society and institutions to political refugees from other countries, because we believe in freedom and democracy. However, the political refugee regime and our legislation have been used by groups that are economic migrants. (…) We cannot continue paying, nor accepting people who are not political refugees”, declared Chaves.
Data cited by the president indicates that there are close to 200,000 people with applications for political refuge, which gives them the right – while the process is being carried out – to stay in the country and look for work.
“We are taking measures to prevent our refugee regime from being misused by people who want to emigrate to Costa Rica, stay here to work, because we have the highest minimum wage in Latin America, we have peace,” Chaves said. .
*Read also: More than 57,700 migrants crossed the Darién in October: the flow of Venezuelans decreased
The president assured that he understood the reasons why migrants prefer to stay in Costa Rica, but criticized the lack of collaboration with resources from organizations and the international community to be able to provide assistance.
«We are not seeing the support of the countries that generate the phenomenon to some extent, such as the United States, we are not seeing the support of the International Organization for Migration, we are not seeing the support of the United Nations, nor of the High Commissioner for Refugees (Acnur)”, denounced.
Chaves said that at the moment he will not announce security measures, because there are several confidentiality elements that prevent him from doing so, but certain issues will be addressed, such as migrants and minors who request money on the streets, as well as irregular camps.
In October, the Government identified that 80% of the migrants entering Costa Rica from Panama are Venezuelans. It is estimated that between 1,000 and 2,500 migrants could be crossing the border per day.
90% of Venezuelans remain in Costa Rica between 24 and 48 hours and then continue on their way, but there are 10% who face economic, logistical or health problems that force them to stay longer. These migrants resort to collecting money on public roads or receiving humanitarian aid from non-governmental organizations.
With information from EFE
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