The United States deported 135 migrants of various nationalities, including 65 minors, to Costa Rica on Thursday, according to the Costa Rican government.
The flight, which departed from San Diego, California, arrived at a base near Juan Santamaría International Airport, as confirmed by an AFP journalist. Upon arrival, the deportees were transported by bus from the capital, San José, to a migrant facility located approximately 360 kilometers (224 miles) away, near the border with Panama, where they will await repatriation to their countries of origin.
According to Costa Rica’s Deputy Interior Minister Omer Badilla, all 65 minors on the flight were accompanied by a relative, and none of the deportees had a criminal record.
The group included migrants from Afghanistan, China, Iran, Russia, Armenia, Georgia, Vietnam, Jordan, Kazakhstan, and Ghana.
Costa Rica, along with Panama and Guatemala, has agreed to receive migrants expelled by the United States and temporarily host them until they are repatriated or relocated to other host countries.
Last week, Panama received 299 deported migrants, with around 100 of them transferred to the San Vicente refugee camp in Metetí, located in the jungle province of Darién.