Asunción, Agencia IP.- Authorities confirmed that the first group of migrants deported from the United States will arrive in the country this Thursday under a migration policy agreement between the two countries. The memorandum indicates that Paraguay may accept Spanish-speaking migrants without criminal records, after reviewing their information.
The president of the National Refugee Commission (CONARE), Carlos Vera, made the announcement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accompanied by the Director of Migration, Jorge Kronawetter, and the Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the United States Embassy, Robert Alter.
The agreement establishes «the orderly and safe transfer of Spanish-speaking citizens of third countries without criminal records who are in the United States.» The details of the memorandum stipulate that the United States government will submit a list of up to 25 people per month to Paraguay. The Paraguayan government has up to 72 hours to respond regarding the acceptance or rejection of the listed individuals.
The migrants arrive in Paraguay to then return to their countries of origin. According to officials, this first group will consist of people deported from countries in the region.
The situation does not generate any costs for the Paraguayan state, authorities affirmed. The expenses for lodging, food, and financial assistance until their return to their countries are covered by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) of the United Nations, in a cooperation already implemented in other countries, Vera noted.
Asylum request
The Head of CONARE indicated that deported migrants can request asylum or refugee status if they demonstrate the conditions established by law for CONARE to accept them as refugees.
The migrants will also undergo the corresponding immigration processes for entry into the country, and therefore may choose to remain.