No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveImmigration Bill Under Constitutionality Review

Immigration Bill Under Constitutionality Review

A bill to overhaul the country’s immigrationrules – including guidelines forobtaining residency and penalties foremploying or assisting illegal immigrants– will be reviewed for its constitutionalityin the Constitutional Chamber of theSupreme Court (Sala IV), the LegislativeAssembly announced this week.The assembly approved the bill in thefirst of two debates last week (TT, June10). Before it is voted on in second debate,the Sala IV gets one month to review thebill for possible constitutional violations.The 248-article legislation punisheswith fines employees of foreigners disqualifiedfrom working and people and companiesthat provide illegal immigrants withhousing. It punishes with jail time peoplewho transport illegal immigrants avoidingborders or using fake documents.The law, as currently proposed, will notincrease the $600 income requirement forretirees seeking residency here under thepensionados category, as was previouslyproposed. Foreigners also will still beallowed to apply for residency as rentistasif they can prove a monthly income of$1,000.Some legislators, particularly thosefrom the Citizen Action Party (PAC), saythe legislation violates the human rightsof immigrants.Costa Rica’s Episcopal Conference,representing the Catholic Church, agrees.Earlier this month, it voiced concernsabout the possibility of human-rights violationsagainst immigrants being perpetuatedif the bill becomes a law.

Trending Now

El Salvador Slams Paris Fashion Show Inspired by Cecot Mega-Prison Inmates

The president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, joked on Saturday that he could send inmates from his mega-prison to France, after they were represented...

Costa Rica and Panama Seek Gold Cup Glory Against North American Giants

With no Caribbean teams advancing, a Central American contingent made up of Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Guatemala heads into the quarterfinals of the...

An Expat’s Take: 5 Burning Questions About Life in Costa Rica Right Now

Have you been keeping up with the various events taking place in Costa Rica? There is always something interesting going down, and here are...

Life After MS-13 in El Salvador as Residents Seek a Fragile Peace

Esperanza Martinez lost three relatives who were murdered and saw numerous bodies left in the streets of her neighborhood, a former stronghold of the...

Costa Rica’s Pride 2025 Closing Event Bans Minors, Sparks Outrage

Costa Rica’s Pride 2025 closing event, set for June 29 at San José’s Plaza de la Democracia, was thrown into controversy when the government...

Costa Rica and U.S. Strengthen Border Scans and Biometric Cooperation

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem met Wednesday with Honduran President Xiomara Castro to discuss security and migration, following her offer in Costa...
Avatar
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica