Costa Rica Trump's policy is having an effect: migrants on their way to the USA are turning back
In view of the stricter immigration policy under the new President Donald Trump, migrants in Central America heading for the USA have started to make their way back home. Dozens of people crossed the border between Costa Rica and its southern neighbor Panama without permission on Tuesday (local time), according to the border authority Senafront.
12.02.2025, 06:54
SDA
According to TVN, a group of around 200 migrants, most of whom came from Venezuela, were stopped by the police after a scramble and sent back to Costa Rica for the time being.
Panama wanted to return migrants to their home countries in an orderly and safe manner, Panama's Ministry of Security explained the action. Following a meeting with Costa Rican representatives, it was agreed to coordinate the movement of migrants in the opposite direction. The people are to be registered first and then returned to their countries of origin by sea or air. People with criminal records are also to be identified in good time.
US President Trump wants to take rigorous action against immigrants who enter the country illegally or who are already in the USA without valid residence status. Several ministries have been instructed to work towards this goal, and more US soldiers have been deployed to support the border guards on the border with Mexico. Deported migrants are flown back to their home countries. Civil rights and human rights activists criticize the new US administration's approach as inhumane.
