Costa Rican officials made an announcement this week enabling dozens of migrants who were recently deported from the United States to either remain in the country or choose to leave. Omer Badilla, head of the country's migration authority, stated that starting Monday, they will begin returning personal documents such as passports, which had previously been withheld as a protective measure for those at risk in their home countries. He emphasized, “If the person has a well-founded fear of returning to their country, we will never send them back. We will protect them.”
This decision follows mounting criticism from the national ombudsman, human rights organizations, and international legal advocates, who condemned Costa Rica for alleged rights violations related to the wrongful detention of these migrants. In February, the government had received around 200 individuals hailing from nations including China, Iran, Russia, and Afghanistan as a consequence of the Trump administration's extensive deportation initiative. These migrants were then resulted in being held at a detention facility, formerly a pencil factory, located near the Panama border.
Costa Rican authorities aim to ensure the legal status and well-being of these deportees, addressing concerns over their treatment and signaling a commitment to human rights.
