Foreigners convicted for crimes such as homicide, human trafficking, child pornography or terrorism have no problems to start the naturalization process and obtain Costa Rican citizenship. Therefore, the director of the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ), Wálter Espinoza, said that the legislation must change, since criminals only have to get married and complete the process.
The nationality is not given away or raffled. Costa Rica is the country with the softest legislation, the least demanding,”
said Espinoza.
The director of the OIJ said that there are many foreigners who have a record in the country, but there is a legal vacuum that forces the authorities to issue the nationality. According to the regulations, only cases of foreigners convicted outside the country are rejected, but says nothing related to convictions in Costa Rica.
The police chief said that since 2011, the OIJ has arrested 1831 naturalized foreigners.
Espinoza participates in the Commission on Security and Drug Trafficking, where the bill to prevent foreigners with criminal records from obtaining Costa Rican naturalization is being studied.
The project was presented by legislator Gustavo Viales.
On the other hand, Germán Rojas, in charge of the Supreme Court of Elections, confirmed that the regulations are there and that many cases of foreigners who obtain nationality have been detected. He even pointed out a case where they handed over citizenship to a foreigner convicted of homicides and with a fairly high jail sentence.
Legislqtor Viales said the current regulations are absurd and criticized the regulations that are exploited by crime.