In Mexico City, human rights attorneys have initiated legal proceedings against Costa Rica, claiming that the nation infringed upon the rights of nearly 81 migrant children. These children, some as young as two years old, were detained for almost two months in a rural facility after being deported from the United States in February. The children were part of a larger group of migrants primarily from Asian countries such as Afghanistan, China, and Russia, who were deported under the Trump administration’s intensified deportation strategies.
Many of the migrants had aspirations of seeking asylum in the United States due to fears of returning to their home countries. Instead, they found themselves transported to Costa Rica and Panama, facing language barriers in regions where they couldn’t communicate. These nations were meant to be temporary stops; however, the migrants ended up stranded for 50 days, unsure of their future. Critics argue that this practice allowed the U.S. to outsource its deportation methods, while human rights organizations have voiced concerns that these countries are becoming “black holes” for deportees.
In Costa Rica, the detained group numbered approximately 200, with 81 being children. They were housed in a former factory turned migrant processing center near the Costa Rica-Panama border. The lawsuit, filed by the Global Strategic Litigation Council alongside other human rights entities, was presented to the U.N. committee responsible for monitoring the Convention on the Rights of the Child, alleging Costa Rica’s violation of this accord.
Attorney Silvia Serna Roman, involved in the legal action, highlighted concerns regarding the prolonged detention without legal status and the lack of educational and mental health services in the detainees’ native languages. She raised alarms about the potential long-term effects of this situation on the children, some of whom have already shown signs of isolation or sadness. “The developmental stage the children are in is crucial, and they’re already fleeing challenging situations in their countries. Being subjected to extended detention and inhumane treatment is raising parental concerns,” Serna Roman pointed out.
Roman noted that access to legal advice has been limited for the migrants. The Costa Rican authorities have stated that migrants could leave the detention center if they opted to return to their home countries or seek asylum in Costa Rica. Despite this, many families fear having no place to go, potentially facing homelessness, and thus endure “indefinite detention” in the facility known as CATEM. “Leaving CATEM equates to uncertainty,” Roman noted, “So many prefer to endure, given the minimum guarantees of shelter and meals.”
The Associated Press has faced persistent denials to access the detention site since the migrants’ arrival, yet during a 2023 visit, it was observed that families were living in dire conditions — sleeping on makeshift setups like cardboard, with inadequate food facilities. Costa Rican officials have challenged claims from the Ombudsman’s Office that the migrants arrived in distress, asserting that authorities ensured suitable conditions for them.
In acknowledging the acceptance of Asian migrants, Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves remarked in February that his nation was aiding “the economically powerful neighbor to the north.” The lawsuit by GSLC and local human rights organizations is one among several legal struggles surrounding the situation of deportees sent to Central America. An analogous case against Panama, which housed migrants in hotels and remote camps, resulted in criticism that led to the migrants being released onto the streets of Panama City without support.
Recently, deportations involving Venezuelan migrants and an American citizen to El Salvador have also ignited legal disputes and political turmoil. These individuals are held in a high-security prison with scant evidence of gang affiliations, intensifying the debate and legal challenges surrounding migrant deportation practices in Central America.