Costa Rica proposes humanitarian corridor for Cuban migrants

Cuban migrants take part in a protest blocking the Pan-American Highway, demanding access to Nicaragua, in Peñas Blancas, Costa Rica, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015. More than 1,000 Cuban migrants heading north to the United States tried to cross the border from Costa Rica into Nicaragua, causing tensions to soar between the neighbors as security forces sought to turn them back. Nicaragua's government responded furiously on Sunday with a statement saying that Costa Rica "had deliberately and irresponsibly thrown, and continues to throw" the Cuban migrants into its territory, violating its national sovereignty. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix) Cuban migrants take part in a protest blocking the Pan-American Highway, demanding access to Nicaragua, in Peñas Blancas, Costa Rica, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015. More than 1,000 Cuban migrants heading north to the United States tried to cross the border from Costa Rica into Nicaragua, causing tensions to soar between the neighbors as security forces sought to turn them back. Nicaragua's government responded furiously on Sunday with a statement saying that Costa Rica "had deliberately and irresponsibly thrown, and continues to throw" the Cuban migrants into its territory, violating its national sovereignty. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

By Associated Press November 17, 2015 1 min read

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) – Costa Rica has proposed creation of a “humanitarian corridor” for Cuban migrants transiting Central America en route to the United States as their numbers swell at its northern border with Nicaragua.

Costa Rican Foreign Minister Manuel Gonzalez said in a radio interview Tuesday that there are nearly 2,000 Cubans at the border being blocked from continuing their journey north by Nicaraguan soldiers.

Nicaragua forcefully pushed nearly 2,000 Cubans back into Costa Rica on Sunday.

Among them was Dagoberto Fernandez, a mechanic traveling with his pregnant wife. He said Tuesday they had left Ecuador and had no problems until arriving at the Nicaraguan border.

Costa Rica issued transit visas to Cubans in its territory.