Havana, December 28 (RHC)-- Pope Francis has urged Central American governments to do all in their power to find a lasting solution to the humanitarian situation of Cuban immigrants stranded in Central America, arguing that many of them are victims of human trafficking and other related crimes.

Meanwhile, Costa Rica's Department of Migration and Foreigners has confirmed that they will repatriate all of the Cuban immigrants who entered the country illegally. The new measure applies specifically to all Cuban nationals who arrived in Costa Rica after President Luis Guillermo Solís officially suspended the granting of entry visas to citizens from the Caribbean state.

Since November 14th, Costa Rican authorities have granted nearly 8,000 transit visas to Cuban nationals, who arrived in the country from Panama, on their way to the United States.

The Costa Rican government announced on December 18th a halt in the granting of such visas to Cuban nationals, adding that those who entered the country illegally would be deported back to Havana.

A new technical meeting on the issue is taking place today, in Guatemala, with the participation of governmental representatives from all the countries involved.