Costa Rica’s Constitutional Court mandated the release of Asian migrants deported by the Trump administration, who have been held since February in a temporary shelter. The court’s 4-3 ruling concluded that the government violated the migrants’ rights by not providing adequate information about their immigration status and lacking access to legal counsel. The government now has 15 days to address each migrant’s immigration status individually.
In February, the Trump administration deported around 200 Asian migrants, including nearly 100 children, from countries like China, Afghanistan, and India. This was part of an agreement amid fears of U.S. retaliation against Costa Rica. The migrants were housed in the Temporary Migrant Care Center (CATEM) under challenging conditions.
As of the court’s ruling, 28 migrants, including 13 minors, remained at CATEM. Most of the deportees had either returned to their home countries or sought asylum in Costa Rica. Costa Rican authorities criticized the court ruling as a “serious error,” claiming that the migrants currently enjoy freedom of movement and regular immigration status.
The court’s decision arose from a habeas corpus petition, specifically regarding the rights of 81 detained minors. In April, Costa Rica had offered humanitarian immigration status to these migrants, allowing them to leave CATEM and pursue asylum.
Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves explained that accepting the migrants was a gesture of goodwill towards the U.S., aiming to avoid potential economic repercussions. Despite this, the government denied any direct pressure from the Trump administration, asserting their decision was voluntary. The situation reflects ongoing complex interactions between migration policies and international relations in the region.
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