Biden Discusses Migration With the President of Costa Rica

President Biden hosted President Rodrigo Chaves of Costa Rica on the White House on Tuesday as their international locations attempt to rein in a surge of migration within the Western Hemisphere.

The two leaders additionally mentioned commerce and efforts to crack down on organized crime.

“What I’ve found with you, Mr. President, is we’re united by the vision we share,” Mr. Biden informed Mr. Chaves within the Oval Office. “A vision for future greater opportunity for freedom and equality and, quite frankly, dignity for all of our people.”

Mr. Biden thanked Mr. Chaves, who was elected final 12 months, for his management “on migration challenges we face every single day.”

The Biden administration’s plan to stem unlawful migration within the United States includes cracking down on asylum seekers on the U.S.-Mexico border whereas working with Central American nations, like Costa Rica, to develop methods for migrants to use for cover nearer to their residence international locations.

Costa Rica not too long ago agreed to construct two facilities the place migrants will be processed for such authorized protections with out crossing the border. About 38,000 migrants from Colombia, Costa Rica and Guatemala have registered for authorized safety by means of this system. More than 2,000 of these candidates have been referred to the U.S. refugee program.

Mr. Chaves is hoping the websites will relieve stress on his nation’s asylum system as properly. Costa Rica, a preferred vacationer vacation spot, has struggled to deal with the variety of migrants fleeing violence in Nicaragua and Venezuela.

More than 270,000 migrants have been in Costa Rica searching for safety by the top of 2022, based on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. As the nation struggled with the surge, Mr. Chaves enacted varied restrictions on the nation’s asylum system, together with a 30-day time restrict for migrants to use for asylum in addition to stringent guidelines for issuing work permits.

The variety of unlawful crossings on the U.S.-Mexico border elevated in July after a pointy drop the earlier month. The greater than 99,500 crossings in June was a 42 % drop from May, which the Biden administration attributed to a brand new asylum rule that set the next bar for a migrant to be eligible to use for asylum within the United States. Crossings, nevertheless, elevated to greater than 132,000 in July.

The White House considers Costa Rica one of many strongest democracies in a area that has slipped towards authoritarianism lately. Mr. Chaves, who promised to upend the Latin American political institution and large enterprise, attended Mr. Biden’s Summit of the Americas, which was snubbed by different key nations within the area, — an look Mr. Biden introduced up on Tuesday. Mr. Biden additionally hosted a summit for democracy in March with leaders from the Netherlands, South Korea and Zambia.

“I agree fully with your vision, the vision of the people of this great country,” Mr. Chaves informed Mr. Biden. “Where prosperity should be shared widely.”

But Mr. Chaves has additionally initiated assaults in opposition to journalists investigating accusations of sexual harassment and monetary misconduct, utilizing govt powers to limit their shops of income. During his marketing campaign final 12 months, he additionally tried to attenuate a World Bank investigation into sexual harassment allegations in opposition to him.

During their assembly, nevertheless, the 2 leaders confirmed a united entrance on financial, safety and migration points.

“I can affirm to you, Mr. President, that Costa Rica has been and shall remain one of the strongest allies in the world regarding your economic and security interests,” Mr. Chaves informed Mr. Biden.