The number of deported foreigners considered “dangerous” has duplicated in the last year.

According to data by the Costa Rican General Directorate of Migration and Foreigners, effective deportations increased by 60%, going from 393 cases to 620, this is a result of a higher number of operations, 150% more, confirmed Esteban Obando, sub-director of Migration, while the number of migratory rejections also saw a raise of 12%.

National authorities rejected 12,085 people in 10 months, all of which didn’t have the necessary requirements to enter the country; this number was of 10,732 in 2016.

Almost one third of the detained migrants are connected to a crime of some sort, and out of the 620 people in the deportation list, 50 are still awaiting the last stage of this process. The majority of them proceed from countries such as El Salvador, Colombia and Nicaragua; 106 people are connected to organized crime.

Migration authorities tightened its measures after the murder of Canadian Elias Akl which took place earlier this year at the entrance of the Mount View School in Guachipelin, Escazu.

Members of Central American gangs and 71 sexual aggressors have been identified and there entry to the country was rejected; 15% more than in 2016.

The new digital migratory system that was recently installed in the international airports should become a great tool for the migration authorities, allowing them to be more efficient in the identification of criminals.

The General Directorate of Migration and Foreigners expects to implement the use of electronic passports by 2020 which will increase security and allow migration authorities to increase its efficiency.