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The number of migrants heading to the US surges, Costa Rica declares a state of emergency. Photo/CNN
SAN JOSE – Costa Rica’s president orders a state of emergency, citing the increasing number of migrants crossing the country heading United States of America (AS).
“People who come through Costa Rica are basically trying to reach the United States,” President Rodrigo Chaves said at a press conference on Tuesday as quoted by CNN, Thursday (28/9/2023).
According to Chavez, people crossing his country come from all over the world, including Venezuela, Ecuador, China, Colombia, Haiti, Yemen and Bangladesh.
According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 84,490 people entered Costa Rica through its southern border in August – an increase of 55% compared to the previous month.
Regionally, the number of migrants crossing the treacherous Darien Gap – which connects Panama and Colombia and has recently become a barometer of movement – broke new records this year.
According to authorities, 248,901 people have crossed the forest so far in 2023, and of these, about 20% are children and teenagers.
In August, Chavez visited US President Joe Biden to discuss migration and other issues.
Costa Rica is among a number of countries that will open so-called safe mobility offices, a new initiative by the Biden administration to partner with international organizations to set up physical processing centers for migrants to apply to legally migrate to the US, among other countries, instead of continuing their journey to the border.
According to a White House official, as of August 28, more than 38,000 people had registered in Colombia, Costa Rica and Guatemala for the Safe Mobility initiative.
(ian)
