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That, and who in his right mind would want a US passport if they had a European one?

Immigration Continues Operatives Against Illegals
The Costa Rican immigration service is hitting hard against illegals in Costa Rica with a series of operatives in all parts of the country, and especially in the San José metropolitan area.

Immigration police officials have been patrolling the streets of downtown San José for the past week, asking foreigners for their immigration status.

Yesterday, operatives in Barrio México, Barrio Los Angeles, Plaza González Víquez, the downtown core, Tibás and La Uruca netted 72 illegals, the majority Colombian and Nicaraguan nationals.

One immigration offical who spoke to Inside Costa Rica on the basis of anonymity confirmed that the intense operations are linked to the assassination plot discovered against the ministro de Seguridad and the ministro de la Presidencia.

Last Saturday, five Colombians were deported for being in the country illegally, alleged to be part of an assassination squad sent to Costa Rica by a Colombian cartel to get rid of ministers Berrocal and Arias, for the hits on the drug trafficking that has resulted in the confiscation of 40 tonnes of cocaine in the past 12 months.

For his part the viceministro de Seguridad, Rafael Gutiérrez Gómez, said this is a "preventive measure" which has been in effect for several months.

The operation on Tuesday involved raids on hotels, cuarterias (rooming houses) and apartment buildings and more than 300 persons questioned.

The immigration service said that they are questioning a number of the detained on the legality of their marriage to Costa Rican nationals.

Though immigration officials are not out on "witch hunt", they are patrolling the Avenida Central and immediate areas and have been asking many foreigners for their cedula or passport.

Immigration officials will accept a photocopy of the passport or residency cedula, including the page with the "entry" stamp to satisfy the legal standing. However, if there is a question on the legal status, the original document must be produced.

Taking part in the immigration operatives are also the Policía Municipal (municipal police) which have closed down 7 commercial establishments for non compliance of municipal codes; the Policía de Tránsito, finding a number of vehicles with altered registration numbers; the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ), the judicial police; and officials of the Fuerza Pública (police).