Key Takeaways:
- Hundreds of migrants, including families, are detained in Costa Rica after being expelled by the U.S.
- Many migrants fled persecution, violence, or war in their home countries.
- Costa Rica, Panama, and Guatemala are holding migrants until they can be sent back or resettled elsewhere.
- Migrants express fears of death or imprisonment if deported back home.
- The U.S. has suspended asylum claims at its southern border, leading to a surge in deportations.
- Human rights groups criticize Costa Rica for its role in detaining migrants, citing violations.
- Only a small number of migrants have been repatriated, leaving the rest in uncertainty.
Migrants in Limbo: A Crisis in Central America
Imagine fleeing your home to escape war, persecution, or death, only to find yourself locked up in a foreign country with no clear future. This is the harsh reality for hundreds of migrants, including children, detained in Costa Rica after being deported by the United States.
Among them is Marwa, a 27-year-old from Afghanistan, who escaped the Taliban’s strict rules to study, work, and live freely. Now, she, her husband, and their two-year-old daughter are trapped in a detention center near Costa Rica’s border with Panama. “If I go back, I will die,” Marwa said, her voice trembling with fear.
Marwa’s husband, Mohammad Asadi, faced threats from the Taliban for selling construction materials to American companies. “They will kill me,” he said. The family, along with about 200 others, including 80 children, are in a state of limbo. They cannot return home, but no country, including Costa Rica, has offered them a safe haven.
A Desperate Journey
The migrants began their journey in countries like Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, and Venezuela, fleeing dangers such as war, religious persecution, or political retaliation. Some traveled through 10 countries to reach the U.S.-Mexico border, hoping to seek asylum. Instead, they were detained, denied the chance to file asylum claims, and flown to Costa Rica.
Alireza Salimivir, a 35-year-old Iranian Christian, fled after converting from Islam. “In Iran, converting to Christianity means jail or death,” he said. Back in Iran, he and his wife would face severe punishment for their faith.
German Smirnov, a 36-year-old Russian, fled after exposing fraud in his country’s presidential election. If deported back to Russia, he fears he will be forced to choose between prison or fighting