In recent weeks, a group of approximately 200 migrants from countries including Afghanistan, Iran, and Russia have found themselves confined in a shelter in Costa Rica after being deported by the United States.

Among them is Marwa, a 27-year-old Afghan woman who fled her home country in search of safety and opportunities for education and personal freedom.

Marwa expressed her fear of returning to Afghanistan, stating, "If I go back, I will die.

The Taliban will kill me.

I lost my father and my uncle there.

I don’t want to lose my husband or my baby.” The family, which includes her husband Mohammad Asadi and their two-year-old daughter, is part of a larger group that includes many children, highlighting the complex humanitarian aspects of forced migration.

The deportations to Costa Rica, which began under the previous U.S. administration led by Donald Trump, were part of a broader strategy that included shutting down legal entry processes and deporting migrants through a network of countries.

Alongside the deportations to Costa Rica, other migrants were sent to Panama and El Salvador, with many now facing their own uncertain futures.

From the original group that arrived, 74 individuals have been repatriated, while 10 more are expected to return soon.

However, a significant number remain in limbo, caught between the refusal to return to their home countries where they face persecution and the inability to secure asylum in Costa Rica, a nation with a longstanding tradition of providing refuge.

Marwa noted the challenges of adapting to a new culture and language, stating, "We cannot go back and we cannot stay here either," as she and others grapple with their precarious status.

Among those apprehended was 35-year-old Alireza Salimivir from Iran, who expressed similar concerns about returning home after converting from Islam to Christianity, highlighting the risks of imprisonment or death.

His wife is currently detained in the U.S. under deportation proceedings, adding to the family’s distress.

German Smirnov, 36, also faces dire consequences should he return to Russia, citing threats of torture for his work as an election observer.

He claims that the political climate under President Vladimir Putin poses a significant risk to his safety.

Conditions at the Temporary Migrant Care Center (Catem), located approximately 350 km south of San José, offer basic provisions such as meals and access to mobile phones.

However, the restriction on freedom of movement, with authorities holding their passports, has raised concerns among the migrants regarding their treatment and rights.

Critics, including former diplomat Mauricio Herrera, have pointed out systemic human rights violations associated with the deportations.

Human Rights Watch officials have voiced concern over Costa Rica’s role in facilitating these deportations and the treatment of those seeking refuge.

Reports indicate that Costa Rican authorities recently informed deportees that obtaining refugee status could lead to dislocation from the shelter, similar to actions previously taken by Panama where individuals were released after detention.

As Marwa and others await further developments, their future remains precarious.

She expressed a desire to maintain her independence and aspirations for a better life, emphasizing her determination not to accept a life constricted by oppressive societal norms, stating, "I am a human being, I choose and I want to be like this." The situation continues to evolve as deportees confront the realities of their confinement and the looming threat of returning to the countries they fled.