More than 15,000 foreigners rejected to enter Costa Rica

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Published Wednesday, June 24, 2020

More than 15,000 foreigners
rejected to enter Costa Rica

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Since March 17 when the operation "Safe Borders" began, 15,580 foreigners, mainly from Nicaragua, have been rejected to enter the country, announced the Ministry of Security on Tuesday.

According to Michael Soto Rojas, Security Minister, the new command patrolling post in the Tablillas District, in Los Chiles Canton, the operation that is carried out in the north of the country to inspect borders as well as the operation of companies in the areas of compliance with the health, labor and immigration guidelines.

Security in the northern border region has increased. Since last week a total of 148 companies have been visited. And 5,957 people were interviewed resulting in 13 people who were in an irregular migratory situation were rejected, 2 were captured for wanted orders of various crimes, 22 companies were closed, 57 health orders were settled for companies, plus 120 health orders for people.

Also, 21 companies with labor law infringements were registered. In these cases, the companies did not comply with labor rights such as occupational health, minimum wages, working hours and overtime payments, said the ministry.

A recent case of foreigner rejection happened on Saturday when the police arrested 14 Nicaraguans, 4 women and 10 men, who entered the country without the respective immigration permit.

According to the police report, the people were detained in the Paso Canoas District, near the border with Panama heading North, when they were walking on the public highway carrying their suitcases and handbags.

"Upon stopping them, the Nicaraguans handed over the passports, but upon reviewing them, they did not have the immigration stamp for leaving Panama," the police said in its report.

The foreigners were detained and taken to the cells of the Professional Immigration Police, where officers will continue the process of deportation to Panama, which is the country where they departed from.

A similar case happened on Thursday when the police arrested nine Nicaraguans and one Costa Rican in the La Unión District, near the border with Panama.

The foreigners were arrested and taken to the police delegation of the Sabalito District, where they will continue with the procedures for their deportation to Panama, the country where they also came from.

The investigation of the Costa Rican woman will continue in order to determine her relationship with the nine detained Nicargauans.

Authorities continue to prevent the unauthorized entry of people into Costa Rica and continue to protect citizens from the covid-19 pandemic, the ministry said in its statement.

On Tuesday the Ministry of Health reported 91 new cases of patients infected with covid-19, bringing the total to 1,227 active cases.

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What have you heard of expats who have been refused entry to Costa Rica? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com