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Possible Immigration
Fraud Investigated
Ministro de Seguridad Pública,
Fernando Berrocal, confirmed
yesterday that his his ministry
is investigation the Dirección
de Migración to clear up any
possible irregularities with
refugee visas given to 10.000
Colombians in the past several
years.
The visas were issued between
1998 and 2000, and authorities
suspect pay offs.
Berrocal said, simple mathematics shows an
average of 11 visas were approved
every day, and the immigration
service does not have the ability
to handle so many approvals, he
pointed out.
According to the minister, he
did not know the number of
Colombian refugees residing in
Costa Ricay, but said
it was not possible that all of
them fulfilled all of the
requirements to be accepted.
Costa Rican law demands evidence
that an individual is persecuted
for political, religious, racial
or other reason in the native
country to obtain the status of
refugee.
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