Link to article:https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/costa-rica-imposes-visa-requirements-venezuelans-migration-surges-2022-02-17/
After concerns rise from Costa Rica authorities, Costa Rica has imposed visa requirements for Venezuela visitors starting next week. Costa Rica is worried about the rise in migrants coming from Venezuela who are fleeing due to economic and political problems in Venezuela. In 2020 nearly 40,000 Venezula immigrants found a home in Costa Rica. Costa Rica migration officials announced that Venezula immigrants must obtain a valid visa before entering the country unless they have a valid emergency. Other requirements include Cubans and Nicaraguans to show transit visas if they are passing through Costa Rica to go to other countries.
This article is important because it shows Costa Rica is taking the necessary steps to ensure that there are no people crossing the border illegally. This hopefully will create a long lasting safer environment for Costa Rica. Not that these immigrants are dangerous but they technically are crossing the border illegally and there is no record of them. As an American I understand this article because of our border with Mexico and the immigrants that flee Mexico and enter America illegally. Earlier in the year Mexico did impose similar rules to help slow the surge of Venezulans fleeing through Mexico all the way to the United States.
This article relates to what we have talked about in class because Costa Rica is working to ensure the safety of their country and their citizens. They are using their power of creating new laws and requirements to ensure their safety. It is in the National interest of Costa Rica to ensure their country is safe. It is interesting to think that so many people have fled from venezuela to Costa Rica and I wonder if imposing these new regulations we will see an impact to Costa Rica’s economy.