Photo: Alamy
The Central American country of Costa Rica announced on Monday that it will receive migrants from other countries, making it the third nation to do so.
The plans include accepting deported migrants from Asian countries, according to a statement from Costa Rica’s president.
“The Government of Costa Rica agreed to collaborate with the United States in the repatriation of 200 illegal immigrants to their country,” the Costa Rican president’s office said in a statement, adding that “these are people originating from… Central Asia and India.”
The first flight of deportees is expected to arrive on Wednesday. The migrants will be transported to a temporary migrant center near the border of Panama.
The decision follows Panama and Guatemala announcing plans to accept deported migrants from the U.S. of any origin, with the operations financed by the U.S. government.
Panama received its first flight of 119 deportees with plans to repatriate migrants to their home countries as soon as possible.
The report also comes as the first plane of illegal immigrants from Nigeria arrived on Monday, with 85 passengers arriving in Lagos.
U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria Richard Mills Jr. told reporters that those on board included convicted prisoners who were in U.S. prisons.
“They appealed but were denied yet they are still in the U.S. They have committed immigration crimes, people who have been ordered to leave,” Mills said.
Nigerian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu confirmed the report of the migrant criminals being returned to Nigeria.
“We requested that the forced removals of our citizens from US soil must be in compliance with internationally prescribed guidelines and established protocols in this regard and that a more humane process should be followed,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu posted to X.
Nearly 6,000 illegal immigrants were reportedly deported as of Feb. 3, according to Homeland Security. As of Jan. 27, border czar Tom Homan said deportation flights were departing daily.
President Donald Trump’s White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that deportation flights of illegal immigrants began on Jan. 24. The press secretary shared the news alongside images of immigrants walking onto military aircraft for departure.
“Deportation flights have begun,” Leavitt posted to X.
“President Trump is sending a strong and clear message to the entire world: if you illegally enter the United States of America, you will face severe consequences,” she added.