Stranded Cuban Refugees Flown from Costa Rica to Mexico-US Border

A group of 113 Cuban refugees have been flown by the Costa Rican authorities to a Mexican border town, from where they are expected to enter the US.

The group, including children and pregnant women, landed in Nuevo Laredo on February 9.

They were among thousands stranded in Costa Rica after neighboring Nicaragua denied them passage north.

Cubans are allowed automatic residence when they set foot in the US.

However, after the United States and Cuba normalized ties following years of animosity, the number of Cubans trying to reach the US surged amid fears the policy would be dropped.

Central American nations reached a deal last month allowing refugees stranded in Costa Rica to continue on to the US.

The first flight carrying about 180 flew from Costa Rica to El Salvador in January.