Costa Rica has become the second Latin American country to detain U.S. deportees as part of an agreement with the Trump administration. A recent flight with 135 deportees will see migrants held in a facility before being sent back to their home countries, igniting concerns about human rights and the conditions of detention amid rising deportations.
Costa Rica has joined Panama in detaining deportees from the U.S. on their way back to their home countries. A recent flight carrying 135 deportees, including many minors, from various countries is scheduled to arrive in Costa Rica as U.S. deportations increase under the Trump administration. Upon arrival, these deportees will be transported to a holding facility near the Panama border, where they may be kept for up to 30 days before being returned home.
The U.S. will finance the operation as part of an agreement established between Costa Rica and the Trump administration, facilitated during U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit. Although similar deals have been negotiated with other nations, there is significant criticism from human rights advocates regarding the use of third countries as temporary deportation stops.
Concerns primarily focus on the treatment of the detainees and international protections for asylum seekers. Many are apprehensive about whether the deportees will receive proper evaluations before being sent back or redirected to other countries. Meanwhile, Honduras has also acted as a brief stopover for deportees, assisting in the transfer of Venezuelans back to their home country.
Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves has stated that the country is aiding its “economically powerful brother from the north” as Trump pressures Latin American countries to cooperate in deportation efforts. Panama has detained deportees in hotel rooms under police protection, with some individuals moved to a remote camp after refusing voluntary repatriation. Costa Rica, however, intends to avoid such conditions according to Deputy Minister Omer Badilla.
Badilla highlighted that the flight arriving from San Diego consists mainly of families, including children and pregnant women. The Trump administration indicated most deportees have consented to return voluntarily, but should they refuse, Costa Rica is prepared to offer asylum or assist in relocation with the U.N. International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The temporary facility designated for holding these migrants has faced previous criticism regarding its living conditions. Although improvements have reportedly been made, journalists have been denied access to the site, which is a former factory. Migrants awaiting deportation will be housed together with representatives from aid organizations to ensure their rights are maintained during detention.
Furthermore, the facility will process migrants seeking to return to their home countries, with Costa Rica seeing an influx of those previously in the U.S. IOM emphasized its humanitarian role, ensuring migrants are treated with dignity but stated it has no involvement in the detention process itself, reflecting its commitment to international standards.
Costa Rica’s involvement as a stopover for U.S. deportees raises significant humanitarian and ethical concerns, particularly surrounding the treatment of those detained and the conditions they face. While the arrangement is strategically beneficial for the U.S. administration, it invites scrutiny from human rights advocates. The country must balance political pressures with its commitment to human rights as it navigates this complex issue.
Original Source: www.independent.co.uk
