|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
►
Thousands of Ticos Live
Illegally in the United States
►
Search for missing Australian intensifies
►
Internet Cafés to Filter Adult Content
►
Day of Prayer for Calderón
Thousands of Ticos Live Illegally in the United
States
A report in the Sunday edition of the
Spanish language newspaper La Nación says that the notion that Costa
Ricans ("Ticos") don't emigrate is a thing of the past. And the
consulates of the major cities in the United States confirm it.
The report says that there are some many Ticos living in the U.S. that
in some places like New Jersey, you can shop buy "natillas Dos Pinos",
buy Tico food in restaurants and watch Costa Rican channel 6 (Repretel)
and 7 (Teletica). And of course, you cannot forget the Salza Lizano.
According to the United States census of 2000, there are officially
70.000 Costa Ricans living in the United States. However, consulates
estimate that number to nearly 220.000 when you count the illegals,
which make up the majority of Ticos in the U.S.
Costa Rica is far from being one of the countries that loses it's
citizens to the U.S. According to the Costa Rican chancellor, Roberto
Tovar, the U.S. has never expressed a concern for this. Notwithstanding,
the number of Ticos immigrating to the U.S. - legally and illegally - in
on the increase, the La Nación report says.
In Chicago alone 8 Ticos have have been deported in the last months
alone, according to Juan Salas, the consulate in that city. Ricardo
González, the consulate in Los Angeles, says that he signed a convention
with that city so that Ticos can get free medical services. In New York,
the consulate there, otto Vargas, is mobile, visiting different Tico
communities on weekends.
The La Nación reporters visited several Tico communities in Trenton and
Bound Brook and to their surprise they could buy "pan tico" - Tico bread
- and saw many Costa Rican flags inside the shops.
The reporters found that Ticos who entered the U.S. illegal don't have
such a 'rosy' life. In the U.S. they clean homes, wash dishes in
restaurants and occupy many of the menial jobs that they wouldn't do at
home in Costa Rica.
Most of the illegals enter by way of Mexico and then purchase false
documents to gain employment. Many told the La Nación reporters that
they fear going to public places where there is high security and will
accept low paying jobs, sometimes well below the minimum wage and can
live up to 8 people in a basement apartment.
The cold weather and the language are other problems faced by Tico
immigrants. Many have never seen show other than in the movies and have
never felt the freezing cold winds and temperatures of the northern
climate.
One of the consequences of immigration, according to the studies done by
the Ministerio de Trabajo and the Universidad de Costa Rica, is the
disintegration of the family unit. At the New York consulate, they say
that up to 30 divorce petitions are processed there each month.
Many of the immigrations plan to go for a "couple" of years. However,
many manage to legalize their status and integrate themselves in the
society and stay. After several years, they only think of returning to
Costa Rica to retire.
Many of the immigrants are entrepreneurs, starting their own businesses
and even though are illegal in the country, they pay taxes. The fear of
deportation is constant.
According to Hernán Marín, of the Asociación de Costarricenses en
Trenton, the Costa Rican government under estimates the migration of
Costa Ricans to the U.S. He said that other countries work to obtain
amnesties and benefits for their people, while Costa Rica does not.
Chancellor Tovar showed surprise on the number of illegal Ticos in the
U.S. and the number of deportations that occur each year, added that he
has yet to receive a request for help by any one of them.
A similar situation is occurring in Canada. No numbers are available as
to how many Ticos live in Canada - legal and illegal - it is
estimated to be in the tens of thousands. Costa Ricans can obtain
visitor visas to the Canada and then begin the process of legalizing
their status once the visa period expires.
Send this Page To a Friend
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
