Yesterday, some 80 migrants entered Costa Rica through Paso Canoas on the southern border with Panama, reported the Public Security Ministry.

The men, women, and some children, who are in transit to the United States by foot, are from a number of African and Asian countries, said officials. According to immigration authorities, the migrants are from Nepal (43), Eritrea (21), Congo (8), Angola (5), and Sri Lanka (3).

They were put into the care of the Immigration and Foreigners Directorate, and, once registered, will be sheltered at one of two immigrant care centers in the country, said Andrea Quesada, press officer for the immigration directorate.

One such center is in the south region, at km 20 of the InterAmerican highway, where there are still 156 migrants out of a total of 2,360 who have arrived in the country since the beginning of year, explained Quesada.

The other center is in La Cruz near the Nicaraguan border in the province of Guanacaste.

The migrants, once they are checked by police and immigration authorities, are typically granted a 25-day transit permit, with the possibility of renewing it for an additional 25 days.