As part of an effort to address illegal immigration, the United States is deporting hundreds of undocumented migrants, including a small group from India, to Central American nations. A flight carrying 200 deported individuals from various regions, including Central Asia and India, is scheduled to land in Costa Rica on February 19, 2025. The Costa Rican government will temporarily accommodate these deportees under its Immigration Law 8764, which regulates visas and non-resident entry.
The Costa Rican government has confirmed it will temporarily house the deportees until they are repatriated to their countries of origin. However, the Ministry of External Affairs has not yet verified if any Indian nationals are included in this group. Costa Rica is the third Central American nation, after Panama and Guatemala, to collaborate with the U.S. in managing deported migrants. The deportation process is funded entirely by the U.S. government, with assistance from the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Costa Rica’s temporary migrant care center, Catem, near the Panama border, will serve as the facility for hosting the deportees.
In a related development, El Salvador has taken further action by agreeing to accept deportees of any nationality, including those with criminal backgrounds, under an unprecedented agreement with the U.S. President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador has offered to house individuals involved in violent gangs such as MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, which have been designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S.
The offer includes the housing of dangerous criminals, with Bukele proposing the use of El Salvador’s mega-prison, CECOT, for these deportees in exchange for a fee paid by the U.S. The arrangement has raised concerns among human rights groups, who warn that such agreements could lead to mistreatment of deportees, including asylum seekers and refugees. Additionally, questions remain about El Salvador’s capacity to handle vulnerable populations humanely.
As deportation efforts increase, partnerships between the U.S. and Central American countries like Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, and El Salvador will play a key role in managing the return of migrants, while also raising issues around the treatment and welfare of those deported.
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