Contraloría Confirms
Country's Immigration
Service Problem
A recent study by the
Contraloría General de
la República
(Comptroller's office)
reveals what many
already know, it is not
difficult to enter and
leave Costa Rican
without immigration
controls.
The eight month study
analyzed immigration
controls and mechanisms
used in Costa Rica and
concluded with a warning
to the Dirección de
Migración y Extranjería
(immigration service) on
the possible weaknesses
in the system.
The study found that
both Costa Ricans and
foreigners were able to
leave the country even
though they were
prohibited from doing
so, party due to lax
controls and partly to
the help of immigration
officials.
"There exists weaknesses
in the controls and
information systems, for
example the information
system on the migratory
movements, including the
system at the juan
Santamaría (San José)
airport on nationals and
foreigners leaving the
country, were records
are missing, not
complete or erroneous",
said Lilliam Mora of the
Contraloría General de
la República.
The Contraloría official
added that important
information used by
immigration police and
the judicial system is
not reliable.
Mario Zamora, director
of Migración, said the
Contraloría is not wrong
and is hopeful that the
problems will be solved
with the new immigration
law that is before
legislators and waiting
approval.
Costa Ricans and
foreigners are at times
prohibited from leaving
the country when they
are involved in a
judicial process, the
courts imposing a
prohibition on leaving
the country as a
preventive measure.
Also, those embroiled in
child custody and
support payments may
have their departure
from Costa Rica impeded
by the courts on the
request of a spouse.
Among the many items in
the Contraloría report
are that many foreigners
stay beyond their time
without any type of
controls; foreigners
deported or expelled
from the country are
able to return without
problems or waiting out
the restricted period;
the database used by
immigration officials at
points of entry are
outdates; and there many
problems with residency
cedulas.
Foreigners visiting
Costa Rica from the US,
Canada and Europe, for
example, are allowed a
maximum stay of 90 days,
while visitors from
Central and South
America, for example,
are only allowed a
maximum stay of 30 days.
A person deported or
expelled from Costa Rica
usually is not allowed
back into the country
for a period of up to 10
years.
Immigration director
Zamora said that he is
aware of the problems
and are working to solve
them under the current
legislation and
financial situation.
"One weakness at the
land border points are
that we depend mainly on
a manual document
control and the human
error factor is always
present in the
registration of entries
and exits", said Zamora.
The objective of the
Contraloría study,
according to Mora, was
not to criticize the
immigration service, but
rather to ask
governmental authorities
to enact regulations and
provide financial
support to strengthen
the immigration
controls.
"Immigration officials
are fully aware of all
the problems and know
that there are
undesirables entering
and leaving the country
since the porosity of
borders is one of the
major problems they
face", said Mora. |
