A Cuban immigrant was stranded in the Juan Santamaría International Airport, north of San José, for more than two weeks after he was detained trying to enter Costa Rica with a fake visa. Johandry Nuñez, 27, requested refugee status after he was detained, claiming he was fleeing religious persecution in Cuba.
After 16 days in the airport, during which he was allowed to roam freely about the boarding areas and converse with passengers, he was granted refugee status.