Human Rights Watch has called upon Costa Rica to refrain from complicity in the United States’ mistreatment of migrants. Michael Garcia Bochenek, a senior counsel on children’s rights, asserted that Costa Rican officials must swiftly identify refugees and ensure individuals are not returned to dangerous situations. Amid these pressing concerns, Costa Rica recently welcomed 200 migrants, including 80 children, to a facility near its southern border, yet no asylum applications have been received thus far, resulting in several individuals being sent back home.
The NGO revealed that despite claims by U.S. and Costa Rican authorities that deported migrants desire to return, several individuals insisted they fled persecution and sought asylum. A 23-year-old Iranian woman described being deported after displaying credible fear of returning home due to religious persecution. Immediately after her asylum interview, U.S. officials threatened her deportation to Iran—ultimately transferring her to Costa Rica.
Similarly, another mother and her two-year-old son, after seeking asylum at the Yuma, Arizona border, were allowed entry but subsequently sent to Costa Rica without the opportunity to consult an immigration judge. The fate of a large Afghan family has been equally tumultuous, as they were scattered across multiple nations while trying to escape Taliban retaliation, with some receiving no credible fear interview in the U.S.
The plight of a Russian family, who fled after seeking to expose electoral irregularities, was also highlighted. The man was ignored by U.S. officials while trying to claim asylum. Bochenek lamented, “There is no excuse for Costa Rica’s failure to safeguard the rights and well-being of the children it is detaining following their deportation from the United States.”
Human Rights Watch has urged Costa Rica to avoid complicity in U.S. migrant abuses, asserting the need to identify refugees and protect them from deportation. Recent reports indicate that many migrants, including families from conflicted regions, were sent back despite their pleas for asylum. Human Rights Watch emphasises the obligation of Costa Rican authorities to ensure the safety and rights of these individuals, particularly vulnerable children.
In conclusion, Human Rights Watch’s appeal to Costa Rica underscores the urgent need to protect the rights of migrants and asylum seekers. Despite welcoming a significant number of individuals, the country’s actions, including returning vulnerable people to harm, raise critical ethical questions. As illustrated by various distressing cases, including children and families fleeing persecution, Costa Rica must take a more active role in ensuring the safety and asylum rights of those it receives.
Original Source: ticotimes.net
