U.S President Joe Biden hosted his Costa Rican counterpart Rodrigo Chaves in Washington this week for a meeting that focused on the current migration challenges facing both nations amid rising illegal border crossings in Central America. They also discussed regional security and free trade agreements, among other things.
The talks come amid heightened tensions in the region due to skyrocketing migration numbers across the Darién Gap, a treacherous jungle corridor between Colombia and Panama. In recent years, Darién has become an alternative for many desperate migrants “seeking a better life, or escaping violence and persecution,” as described by the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM).
As of August, more than 250,000 people have crossed the Darién Gap on foot in 2023, surpassing the entire number of crossings recorded in 2022. Both Costa Rica and the U.S. are affected by the problem, with the former being part of this uncontrolled Central American migratory route, and the latter being the final destination of those fleeing crisis in their home countries.
After the meeting, described by both sides as “very productive,” the Costa Rican head of state said it was important for both administrations to address the “structural problems” behind the Darién issue, such as “poverty and the lack of opportunities.”
Security was also a topic, especially relevant now that Costa Rica — once considered an oasis of stability in this historically violent part of the Americas — has seen homicides break records due to the advance of drug trafficking.
Mr. Chaves’s visit to the White House this week marked the first time a Costa Rican president has been welcomed in the Oval Office since 2006.
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