The government of Costa Rica announced yesterday (Monday) that it had agreed to receive illegal immigrants deported by US authorities, aligning its stance with that of two of its neighbours, Panama and Guatemala, at a time when Donald Trump is seeking to expel from US territory “millions” of people who are there illegally.

“The Costa Rican government has agreed to cooperate with the US to repatriate to their countries 200 irregular migrants,” the presidency of the Central American nation announced. These are people from countries “in Central Asia” and from “India,” according to the same source.

Republican President Donald Trump promised during the campaign to unleash “the largest deportation program in American history” by targeting undocumented immigrants, with the involvement of the armed forces if he deems it necessary.

Since returning to the White House on January 20, his administration has been conducting and promoting in friendly media and on social media sites deportations of illegal immigrants across the country, particularly on military flights. He also means to send tens of thousands of migrants to the notorious military prison at the base in Guantanamo Bay, on Cuban territory.

Costa Rica is the third Central American country to agree to be a stopover for nationals of various countries persecuted by the US, after Panama and Guatemala.

An initial group will arrive in the Costa Rican capital San Jose tomorrow Wednesday on a commercial flight, according to the presidential announcement.

The passengers will be transferred to a reception and temporary detention center about 360 kilometers from San Jose, it added.

“The process will be entirely funded” by the US government, with oversight by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), part of the UN system, always according to the Costa Rican presidency.

On Friday, a first flight arrived in Panama with 119 migrants from Asian countries deported by US authorities. According to Panamanian media, two other arrivals followed, bringing the number of migrants received by this country to 360.

Guatemala to this stage has not received deported migrants, although it has consented.