Costa Rica tightens overwhelmed asylum system


              Venezuelan migrant children play with a Costa Rican girl sitting behind a fence in a parking lot, while their parents Richard Plaza and his wife Widner Bijarena clean windshields on one of the streets of San Jose, Costra Rica, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022. Faced with an overwhelmed asylum system, Costa Rica, one of the world’s great refuges for those fleeing persecution, is tightening its generous policies after President Rodrigo Chaves said the country’s system is being abused by economic migrants. (AP Photo/Carlos Gonzalez)
            
              Venezuelan migrants Richard Plaza and his wife Widner Bijarena wash windshields on a street in San Jose, Costra Rica, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022. Faced with an overwhelmed asylum system, Costa Rica, one of the world’s great refuges for those fleeing persecution, is tightening its generous policies after President Rodrigo Chaves said the country’s system is being abused by economic migrants. (AP Photo/Carlos Gonzalez)
            
              Venezuelan migrant Carlos Rivas, left, sells sweets on a street in Heredia, Costra Rica, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. Faced with an overwhelmed asylum system, Costa Rica, one of the world’s great refuges for those fleeing persecution, is tightening its generous policies after President Rodrigo Chaves said the country’s system is being abused by economic migrants. (AP Photo/Carlos Gonzalez)
            
              Venezuelan migrants Marielis Marqués, together with her children, sell sweets on a street in San Jose, Costra Rica, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. Faced with an overwhelmed asylum system, Costa Rica, one of the world’s great refuges for those fleeing persecution, is tightening its generous policies after President Rodrigo Chaves said the country’s system is being abused by economic migrants.  (AP Photo/Carlos Gonzalez)
            
              Venezuelan migrants Junior Bucela, left, and his wife Yorlaina Hernandez, center, sell sweets on a street in San Jose, Costra Rica, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. Faced with an overwhelmed asylum system, Costa Rica, one of the world’s great refuges for those fleeing persecution, is tightening its generous policies after President Rodrigo Chaves said the country’s system is being abused by economic migrants. (AP Photo/Carlos Gonzalez)
Costa Rica tightens overwhelmed asylum system