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Published Monday, April 13, 2020
Government installs
airbaseat the northern border By the A.M. Costa Rica staff This weekend, the government installed an alternate airbase in the district of Las Tablillas, in Alajuela Province, in the northern border with Nicaragua, to maintain permanent surveillance from the sky. Authorities, led by Vice President Epsy Campbell, and the Minister of Public Security, Michael Soto, inspected the border posts in the district of Las Tablillas and the district of Peñas Blancas this Friday. "With this deployment of six types of police forces we are protecting all the people who live in our country," said Campbell.  According to statistics provided by the government, 5,357 foreigners have been rejected at the Nicaraguan border and 60 vehicles carrying undocumented immigrants have been intercepted. The General Directorate of Migration has started the process to cancel immigration status for 1,350 people who had resident status or had legal permits to work in the country. These people were refused re-entry to the country. Most of these people are Nicaraguans who were trying to evade the border closure rule, Campbell reported. Campbell traveled to the northern area with other authorities to inspect the border protection operation that has been active since March 19. The number of officers regularly on the northern border has multiplied and police presence will continue to increase, Campbell said. She added: "With this police deployment we are protecting all the people who live in our country, guaranteeing that there are no illegal entering and safeguarding Costa Rican public health and security." According to Michael Soto, minister of Security, the departure of Nicaraguans during Easter has been much less than usual. "Immigration status will be canceled for those who have left during the emergency period. Non-resident foreigners are banned from entering the country," Soto said. In the cantons bordering Nicaragua, a total of 70 fines have been imposed on people who have violated the ban on driving and 60 drivers have been intercepted carrying undocumented immigrants, reported the Traffic Police. Drones are being used in the border to detect undocumented immigrants, said the Border Police. The most recent case of an undocumented immigrant who entered the country and received media attention occurred last week, when a 17-year-old pregnant girl was admitted to Upala Hospital in Alajuela Province where she was tested for covid-19. The pregnant girl was in the custody of the immigration police when she presented symptoms related to covid-19, so she was admitted to the Hospital. However, after having performed the medical examination, the covid-19 was ruled out. According to Social Security authorities, at a press conference on Sunday, the girl was already pregnant when she entered the country from Nicaragua along with a group of Nicaraguans. According to the authorities, she is a minor under the age of 18, where a different process will be applied to her. She will be brought before the authorities of the National Children's Board, called PANI, where her case will be studied and it will be determined if she will be able to remain in the country during the time she is a minor. It is presumed that during that time, she will give birth in the country. Campbell has made a total of seven visits to the northern area in the past three weeks. --------------------- What other security measures should the authorities take to prevent undocumented immigrants from entering the country? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |
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