Obama Admin Has Given Costa Rica Nearly $1 Million To House Immigrants
Many of the immigrants pouring into Costa Rica are from other Central America countries, Cuba and Haiti. Speaking at the Wilson Center in Washington D.C, [Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo] Solis pointed out that Costa Rica is also receiving a lot of “extra-continental” immigrants.
Primarily these immigrants are from African countries, but Solis mentioned that his country has received some as well from Pakistan. The nearly million dollars Costa Rica received from the U.S is going to be used to “install camps” in the northern part of Costa Rica. President Solis mentioned that at one point there were more Cuban immigrants in the northern Costa Rican town of La Cruz than Costa Rican residents.
Obama Agrees to Massive Military Donations for Costa Rica
In a bid to help curb organized crime and human trafficking, Obama, accompanied by Vice-president Joe Biden, agreed to donate around $30 million in military supplies to Costa Rica, which includes two cargo planes, two large patrol boats and two smaller interceptor boats, air surveillance equipment and biometric software to help identify illegal immigrants in the field.
The agreement also provides supplies for law enforcement, including three armored vehicles, the construction of virtual shooting ranges and communication equipment for the guards at Corcovado National Park.
In addition to the equipment, the U.S. will provide Costa Rica with extensive Coast Guard training and maintenance packages for the boats.
Solís had recently expressed concern over neighboring Nicaragua’s purchase of fifty T-72 Russian tanks, according to A.M. Costa Rica (no direct link).
Additionally (emphasis added),
Last month, Costa Rica announced that it would offer temporary refuge to people fleeing from the violence-plagued Central American countries of El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala – a decision spurred by U.S. efforts to stem illegal entries along its southern border with Mexico.
As part of the program, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will pre-screen people seeking protection and transfer them to Costa Rica for processing before resettlement in the U.S. or another country.
h/t JC.
