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### Viewing cable 09SANJOSE692, A SNAPSHOT OF COSTA RICA'S REFUGEE COMMUNITY

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
09SANJOSE692 | 2009-08-14 20:08 | 2011-03-21 16:04 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy San Jose

`

    VZCZCXYZ0001
    RR RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHSJ #0692/01 2262018
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    R 142018Z AUG 09
    FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1122
    RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0341

` `

    UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000692

    SIPDIS
    SENSITIVE

    STATE FOR WHA/CEN; PRM/ECA KPONGONIS

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: PREF PREL PHUM PREF ELAB EAID SMIG KWMNCS
    SUBJECT: A SNAPSHOT OF COSTA RICA'S REFUGEE COMMUNITY

    1.(U) Summary: Costa Rica is home to approximately 12,000 refugees,
    the largest refugee population in Central America. The vast majority
    (roughly 10,000) of Costa Rica's refugees are of Colombian origin,
    though there are also Cuban, Nicaraguan, and Peruvian refugees,
    among others.  Many refugees have found safety and freedom in Costa
    Rica, and a number have managed to prosper economically.  The
    majority of refugees have found work through the help of a few
    organizations working on refugee issues in Costa Rica, though some
    have faced discrimination due to their refugee status.  A new
    immigration law passed in August 2009 created a separate division
    within the Department of Immigration to deal with refugee issues.
    This should improve both the speed and effectiveness of Costa Rican
    Immigration's refugee administration. End Summary.

    -----------------
    Refugee Community
    -----------------

    ¶2. (U) According to the office of the United Nations High
    Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there are approximately 11,923
    people recognized by the GOCR as refugees in Costa Rica.  Refugees
    typically live in urban areas in Costa Rica's central valley and
    meld into the local community.  The majority of refugees live in the
    Desamparados district of San Jose, Alajuela and Heredia.  Refugees
    have typically sought work in vocational areas, such as auto
    mechanics or health and beauty services; they often find work
    through family and/or friends already residing in the country.  The
    Ministry of Labor's Employment Office, working in conjuction with
    UNHCR, also assists refugees in finding local employment.  Some
    refugees have also been able to start their own businesses with the
    help of organizations such as Professional Association for the
    Promotion of the Poor and at-Risk (APRODE) by qualifying for
    microcredit loans.

    --------------
    Discrimination
    --------------

    ¶3. (U) Refugees and those working within the refugee community often
    complain of subtle or overt forms of public discrimination.
    According to UNHCR, it is often difficult for refugees, who carry
    residency cards which clearly state their refugee status, to find
    employers willing to hire them.  The Israeli Zionist Center of Costa
    Rica conducted a poll in 2009 that asked Costa Ricans which of a
    wide group of minorities they found to be the most untrustworthy.
    Thirty-five percent of those polled stated that they most distrusted
    Colombians, double the next-highest group (Nicaraguans).  As
    one-third of all Colombians in the country are refugees, it is often
    difficult to determine whether refugees are discriminated against
    because they are refugees, or because they are Colombian.
    Adolescents, in particular, face difficulties assimilating into
    their new communities.

    ¶4. (U) In order to help refugees integrate into their communities
    and soften Costa Ricans' feelings towards refugees, UNHCR, along
    with a local partner, is conducting an ongoing pro-refugee media
    campaign.  The campaign focuses on changing opinions towards
    refugees, and sensitizing Costa Ricans to refugee issues in the
    community.  Information about refugees has been posted on
    billboards, posters, newspapers, television ads, radio, and other
    mediums throughout San Jose and other highly populated areas.

    ----------------
    Refugee Response
    ----------------

    ¶5. (U) There are a number of local or international organizations
    working to address refugee issues in Costa Rica.  UNHCR often leads
    the local and regional response by working with a number of
    different local organizations.  One of their primary local partners
    is the Association of International Consultants and Advisors (ACAI),
    a non-governmental organization.  ACAI provides free legal services,
    psychological consultation, and job-skills training to refugees.
    UNHCR works with APRODE to set up micro-credit funds targeted
    towards refugee entrepreneurs.  The United Nations Joint Programme
    on HIV/AIDS (ONUSIDA) and UNHCR also provide training on HIV
    prevention and AIDS.  They have trained more than 2,500 people in
    health camps over the past year alone.

    ¶6. (U) The Costa Rican government also provides medical assistance,
    through their social security system, and other benefits to
    refugees.  The local government of Desamparados (which is home to
    one of the highest concentrations of refugees in the country) has
    assisted in the establishment of the House of Rights, a center where
    refugees, nationals, and migrants can come together and receive help
    in diverse areas, for free.

    ¶7. (SBU) Additionally, Post works with the refugee community and
    their issues, highlighted by the successful implementation of a
    number of Ambassador's Fund for Refugees/Julia Taft Fund grants.
    The 2008 project created a new computer training center inside of
    the House of Rights, which continues to provide internet access,
    computer skills training, and other workshops to refugees to improve
    their job skills and employment opportunities.  APRODE has also had
    a 2009 Julia Taft Fund application approved, which will establish a
    revolving micro-credit fund for female entrepreneurs who had not
    been eligible for other APRODE funds due to the small size of their
    businesses.

    -------------------
    NEW IMMIGRATION LAW
    -------------------

    ¶8. (U) On August 4, 2009 Costa Rica's Legislative Assembly
    unanimously approved a new immigration law.  The new law will not go
    into effect until six months after publication in the official GOCR
    gazette.  This law enacts a number of badly needed changes to Costa
    Rica's Immigration Department.  The refugee application process in
    Costa Rica is currently a time-consuming ordeal; the GOCR often
    takes 6-8 months to rule on an application and has a current backlog
    of 80 cases on appeal (applicants cannot legally work until their
    case is approved).  This is in part due to the lack of a standing
    refugee office within the Immigration Department, which complicates
    both funding and capacity building, as immigration officials
    frequently rotate responsibilities.

    ¶9. (U) The new law should address some of these issues.  Chiefly
    among these is the creation of a separate office to deal
    specifically with refugee issues.  This will include the assignment
    of specific immigration officials to the refugee office, who will
    receive special training in refugee processing procedures.  The new
    office will also have its own, separate archives, to easier manage
    information regarding cases.  The law also grants certain additional
    protections to refugees and clarifies and strengthens the approval
    and appeal process.  Finally, the new law removes or lowers some of
    the financial costs involved with the refugee application process.

    -------
    COMMENT
    -------

    ¶10. (SBU) Costa Rica is a natural harbor for those fleeing
    persecution in the Americas.  Its long history of political
    stability, economic success, and respect for human rights all make
    Costa Rica appealing to potential refugees, and we expect the
    country to continue to see high numbers of refugees.  However,
    despite the country's lofty record on human rights, Costa Ricans
    themselves are not immune to personal prejudices.  As such,
    continued work on refugee issues, including continued USG support of
    the refugee community remains important.  We anticipate that the
    implementation of the new immigration law will have a significant
    and lasting effect on Costa Rica's administration of the refugee
    process.  Refugees can, and often do, build a new, better life in
    Costa Rica.  However, they often need a helping hand to get there.

    BRENNAN

`