Costa Rica opens doors to U.S. deported migrants with short-term permits

A significant humanitarian act has been carried out by the government of Costa Rica for the 200 deported migrants from the U.S. They have announced a three month permit to all these people and this would allow them to remain legally in Costa Rica, while seeking asylum or determining their next legal steps. Also, they have underpinned that all these migrants (they are mostly from the countries like Afghanistan, Russia, China, Pakistan India & Others) were kept in harsh conditions near the Panama border, and they all were kept in those detentions. 

This proactive decision of Costa Rican government came after the lawsuit which was filed by the human rights lawyers who accused the government for detaining 81 migrant children without proper care, an access for education or any legal recourse. With this permit the migrants have the rights to apply for identification documents and passports, but they are not permitted to work in their country. Such a notable limitation is expected to make the migrants vulnerable and dependent on aid. 

“If the person has a well-founded fear of returning to their country, we will never send them back. We will protect them” said Omer Badilla, Head of Costa Rica’s Migration Authority.

However, Costa Rica’s move has drawn global attention through their delicate balance between their national policy & humanitarian responsibility and eventually, the criticism over the deportation policies of the U.S. multiplied. The given information states that Panama and Honduras are reported to be involved in receiving the deported migrants and a notable migration pressure has been encountered too.