Cuban refugees stranded in Costa Rica begin their journey to US

With still 10 hours before they were scheduled to leave, Michel Águila and Arnobis Téllez had their migrant backpacks already prepared by midday Tuesday.

The only things they were taking for their long journey to the United States were some clothes, what little money they had, and a cellphone.

We are not guaranteeing they will reach the US but we have guaranteed they will be able to travel through the region”

Costa Rican migration director Kathya Rodríguez

They were hoping to reach the United States by Saturday, but first they had to fly to El Salvador from Costa Rica, where they had been stranded for two months following a diplomatic showdown with neighboring Nicaragua. Once they reach El Salvador, they will have to travel by land across Central America and Mexico.

Michel and Arnobis are two of the first 180 Cuban refugees who were scheduled to fly to El Salvador as part of a coordinated effort with the Costa Rican and other Central American governments.

There are some 8,000 Cuban refugees waiting in Costa Rica to travel to the United States.

In November, the Nicaraguan government closed its borders and prohibited the Cubans from crossing over after Managua accused the government of San Jose of violating international laws by allowing the refugees to travel without transit documents. Hundreds were deported after they reached Nicaragua.

Managua also charged that Costa Rica was dumping people on its side of the border.

The Cubans had arrived by plane in Ecuador, which had lifted travel visas for those from that country, and crossed over into Colombia and Panama before they found themselves stranded and living in makeshift camps on the Costa Rican border.

“Finally, we are going today,” Michel said, after shaving and bathing at a refugee camp set up about 20 kilometers from the Nicaraguan border crossing. “This has been hard but it’s another small step to be taken before we reach the United States.”

The refugees hope to obtain US residency under the Cuban Adjustment Act.

The first group will be taken by bus to Liberia, Costa Rica, where they will board a plane destined for El Salvador.

While many are excited, the refugees have mixed feelings about their journey because they are unclear how they will cross Mexico once they arrive by bus in the southern city of Tapachula.

It is going to be dangerous but we knew this during our original plans” Cuban refugee Arnobis Téllez

“We are not guaranteeing that they will reach the United States but we have guaranteed that they will be able to travel through the region,” said Costa Rican migration director Kathya Rodríguez.

“It is going to be dangerous but we knew this during our original plans,” said Arnobis, who was part of the first group of Cubans that crossed over from Panama.

At the Nocturno de La Cruz school, people celebrated. “Everything is fine, we are a lot calmer,” said Luis Felipe as he was getting a haircut from a fellow refugee. The young man wants to be well-groomed before he embarks on his journey.

His barber, Reinier Montes de Oca, admitted to being jealous because he won’t be leaving soon.

“I am staying for now, but I hope to go soon – maybe around the 20th^. But things haven’t been all that bad here in Costa Rica,” he said.

English version by Martin Delfín.