The Migratory (Immigration) Police carried out operations with the collaboration of the Public Police Force in different areas of the country to detect the presence of immigrants who remain in the country illegally.

According to the General Directorate of Migration another operation was carried out last Friday in 21 locations within the country. The areas of importance were communities with a high index of foreigners many under irregular migratory conditions, and with the purpose of contributing to the security of these communities.

As a result of this last operation, the police verified the documents of 152 foreigners, 7 of them were arrested since they are in the country illegally and will now be deported to their country of origin. 50 passports were seized, 12 were returned to their country of origin and 172 were notified and must appear at the offices of the Migratory Police to carry out and administrative processes.

Raquel Vargas, General Director of Migration, confirmed that all the operations were carried out respecting all Human Rights. She affirms that so far a total of 478 Nicaraguans have been deported that were requesting asylum in the country but had a criminal records and “do not deserve international protection”.

Migration police have also visited more rural communities in Pital, San Carlos, Guatuso, Upala and Los Chiles during the month of August working together with the Municipalities to coordinate the situation of finding illegal immigrants from Nicaragua.

Costa Rica is currently receiving financial aid from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to assist with the increasing number of immigrants from Nicaragua requesting asylum in the country.