Indian, 29 other America deportees reach Costa Rica

San Jose: Costa Rica on Friday received a second group of 30 migrants deported from the US, including an Indian national, under a bilateral agreement to assist US deportation policies. Signed in March by Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves and US Special Envoy Kristi Noem, the deal allows the US to expel up to 25 third-country nationals to Costa Rica weekly. 

The latest arrivals include nationals from Brazil, Romania, Uzbekistan, China, Azerbaijan, Ireland, India, Vietnam, and Belarus. Upon arrival at San Jose's Juan Santamaría International Airport, deportees were offered assistance by the International Organisation for Migration. They have seven days to choose between the Assisted Voluntary Return programme to their home countries or applying for legal residency and refugee status in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica is among nations, including Rwanda, South Sudan, and Guyana, that have signed such agreements as US President Donald Trump pressures foreign governments to accept deportees. Many migrants, who originally sought asylum in the US, now face legal uncertainty in countries where they lack linguistic or cultural ties. The first group sent to Costa Rica earlier this month included migrants from Albania, Kenya, Morocco, and India, alongside Central American nationals.