Mexico and Central American countries approved a plan on Wednesday (January 20) for more flights that would allow thousands of Cubans stranded in Costa Rica to continue on to the United States.
Regional governments meeting in Guatemala earlier this week deemed as a “success” the first pilot trip last week, when 180 Cubans flew to El Salvador, took a bus to Mexico and received transit visas to go to the U.S. border.
Costa Rica’s Deputy Immigration Minister, Gladys Jimenez, told media priority will be given to pregnant women, children and families amongst the 7,800 Cubans trapped in Costa Rica since mid-November when Nicaragua closed its borders.
“Basically, it has been announced that priority will be given to families, pregnant women, minors and of course taking into account the date they entered the country,” she said.
Officials have not specified how many people would leave on each flight or the third-party countries that will take the migrants.
“With the decision reached yesterday, we’re making the necessary coordinations with embassies because we must remember that it’s a diplomatic issue so that we can establish and find a third country to receive them (migrants),” added Jimenez.
But not everyone is happy with the breakthrough. Joseph Rivera represents Cuban migrants who have been arrested in Costa Rica for reportedly entering the country illegally.
He called on jailed Cubans to be freed following the decision.
“They (arrested Cubans) need to be freed or to at least helped a little on the issue of shelter because they have complained that there are a lot of health issues where they are. They’re (officials) putting together a document (for migrants to sign) and migration officials threaten them. According to statements from my representatives they (officials) are going to send them (migrants) to Cuba again. The document that they’re signing outlines that they give up representation from a lawyer,” he said.
The flights will begin on February 4, and regional governments will meet again in mid-February to evaluate the plan.
Thousands of Cubans have turned to the Central American route to try to reach the United States, spurred by fears that a recent detente between Havana and Washington will end preferential U.S. asylum rights for Cubans that allow them to enter the United States by land without a visa. Those found at sea are deported. (Reuters)