Conditions for Deported Migrants at Costa Rica's Catem Center Raise Concerns
Over 100 migrants housed at the Catem facility express urgent pleas for assistance to return to the United States.
The Center for Temporary Attention to Migrants (Catem) in Costa Rica is currently sheltering approximately 110 migrants who were deported from the United States.
The facility, situated on a sprawling property near the Paso Canoas border with Panama, has drawn attention for its conditions and the treatment of those housed within.
Despite claims by the Costa Rican government that the facility is not a detention center, many migrants report feeling imprisoned.
They are under constant police surveillance, surrounded by barbed wire fencing, and have been stripped of their passports upon arrival in Costa Rica.
The Catem, which occupies over seven hectares, was previously a pencil factory that produced millions of units for export before its transformation into a temporary shelter for migrants in 2016. Migrants from various countries including Ghana, Kazakhstan, Jordan, Iran, Azerbaijan, Vietnam, Georgia, Russia, Afghanistan, Turkey, Armenia, China, Uzbekistan, India, Nepal, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo find themselves without clear answers about their status or future.
Access for journalists to the facility is limited.
Recently, reporters were only allowed into a communal area of the Catem for one hour, where they were met with the sight of migrants, many of whom are families, trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy in challenging conditions.
The media reports highlight a lack of adequate access to nutrition, cultural food preferences, and limited access to healthcare services.
The Catem was established with the intent to manage migration flows and avoid the detention of irregular migrants, following a framework set by former Minister of Communication Mauricio Herrera Ulloa.
However, recent testimonies from migrants indicate that their experiences might contradict the intended humanitarian purpose of the facility.
Critics argue that migrants are essentially being detained without legal cause, a claim that has been rejected by Costa Rica's Minister of Public Security, Mario Zamora, who asserts that the detention of documents is part of established procedures.
Among the migrants, there are poignant stories of those fleeing persecution and conflict.
For example, a man from the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported fleeing violence, while another, identified as Ciro, shared his harrowing experience of leaving Iran due to religious persecution.
Ciro's account highlighted the disorientation faced by many as they navigate their uncertain futures with limited communication options—often relying on translation technology to express their dire needs.
Recent incidents within the Catem have also raised alarm, including the escape of six migrants from various nationalities.
Although no international alerts have been raised, local law enforcement has been notified to keep an eye out for them.
Additionally, lawmakers in Costa Rica have called for urgent measures to address the situation, including a review of the facilities and services provided to the migrants.
The Directorate General of Migration and Foreigners (DGME) reported that of the initial 200 deportees, a portion have since returned to their home countries, while others have expressed interest in seeking refuge in Costa Rica or opting to remain.
As the situation continues to unfold, the central question surrounding the treatment of these migrants remains a focal point for discussion among officials and humanitarian advocates.
The facility, situated on a sprawling property near the Paso Canoas border with Panama, has drawn attention for its conditions and the treatment of those housed within.
Despite claims by the Costa Rican government that the facility is not a detention center, many migrants report feeling imprisoned.
They are under constant police surveillance, surrounded by barbed wire fencing, and have been stripped of their passports upon arrival in Costa Rica.
The Catem, which occupies over seven hectares, was previously a pencil factory that produced millions of units for export before its transformation into a temporary shelter for migrants in 2016. Migrants from various countries including Ghana, Kazakhstan, Jordan, Iran, Azerbaijan, Vietnam, Georgia, Russia, Afghanistan, Turkey, Armenia, China, Uzbekistan, India, Nepal, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo find themselves without clear answers about their status or future.
Access for journalists to the facility is limited.
Recently, reporters were only allowed into a communal area of the Catem for one hour, where they were met with the sight of migrants, many of whom are families, trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy in challenging conditions.
The media reports highlight a lack of adequate access to nutrition, cultural food preferences, and limited access to healthcare services.
The Catem was established with the intent to manage migration flows and avoid the detention of irregular migrants, following a framework set by former Minister of Communication Mauricio Herrera Ulloa.
However, recent testimonies from migrants indicate that their experiences might contradict the intended humanitarian purpose of the facility.
Critics argue that migrants are essentially being detained without legal cause, a claim that has been rejected by Costa Rica's Minister of Public Security, Mario Zamora, who asserts that the detention of documents is part of established procedures.
Among the migrants, there are poignant stories of those fleeing persecution and conflict.
For example, a man from the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported fleeing violence, while another, identified as Ciro, shared his harrowing experience of leaving Iran due to religious persecution.
Ciro's account highlighted the disorientation faced by many as they navigate their uncertain futures with limited communication options—often relying on translation technology to express their dire needs.
Recent incidents within the Catem have also raised alarm, including the escape of six migrants from various nationalities.
Although no international alerts have been raised, local law enforcement has been notified to keep an eye out for them.
Additionally, lawmakers in Costa Rica have called for urgent measures to address the situation, including a review of the facilities and services provided to the migrants.
The Directorate General of Migration and Foreigners (DGME) reported that of the initial 200 deportees, a portion have since returned to their home countries, while others have expressed interest in seeking refuge in Costa Rica or opting to remain.
As the situation continues to unfold, the central question surrounding the treatment of these migrants remains a focal point for discussion among officials and humanitarian advocates.
