A new lawsuit against Costa Rica raises concerns about the welfare of migrant children deported from the U.S., demanding action against their detention conditions.
Lawsuit Accuses Costa Rica of Violating Rights of Deported Children
Lawsuit Accuses Costa Rica of Violating Rights of Deported Children
Legal action highlights the plight of children caught in U.S. deportation policies amid claims of neglect and harm.
April 17, 2025, 7:10 p.m. ET
A coalition of human rights attorneys has launched a legal action against the Costa Rican government, charging that it has infringed on the rights of 81 migrant children who were deported from the United States. This lawsuit comes after the children and their families were subjected to extended detention in conditions that may cause them significant harm, underscoring the adverse effects of the Trump administration's immigration policies.
This legal challenge is the second major indictment directed at a Central American nation that accepted the deportation of migrants from the U.S. as part of a larger strategy to enforce mass deportations. The case, filed with the U.N. committee tasked with upholding the Convention on the Rights of the Child, underscores the ramifications of international agreements meant to protect vulnerable populations.
Ian Kysel, a law professor at Cornell University and a key member of the Global Strategic Litigation Council involved in the lawsuit, stressed that Costa Rica's recent commitment to adhere to additional U.N. treaty measures opens the door for accountability. He noted the committee has the authority to issue recommendations, but it ultimately rests on Costa Rica to adhere to any directives and for other countries to hold it accountable if it fails to comply.
In February, nearly 200 migrants from various nations, including 81 minors, were received in Costa Rica via two deportation flights from the U.S. These individuals were relocated to a remote facility near the Panamanian border, where they awaited either repatriation or asylum in third countries, leaving many trapped in a precarious legal limbo. The suit raises urgent questions about the conditions these children endure while separated from their families, amplifying calls for policy reform in light of their distressing circumstances.
A coalition of human rights attorneys has launched a legal action against the Costa Rican government, charging that it has infringed on the rights of 81 migrant children who were deported from the United States. This lawsuit comes after the children and their families were subjected to extended detention in conditions that may cause them significant harm, underscoring the adverse effects of the Trump administration's immigration policies.
This legal challenge is the second major indictment directed at a Central American nation that accepted the deportation of migrants from the U.S. as part of a larger strategy to enforce mass deportations. The case, filed with the U.N. committee tasked with upholding the Convention on the Rights of the Child, underscores the ramifications of international agreements meant to protect vulnerable populations.
Ian Kysel, a law professor at Cornell University and a key member of the Global Strategic Litigation Council involved in the lawsuit, stressed that Costa Rica's recent commitment to adhere to additional U.N. treaty measures opens the door for accountability. He noted the committee has the authority to issue recommendations, but it ultimately rests on Costa Rica to adhere to any directives and for other countries to hold it accountable if it fails to comply.
In February, nearly 200 migrants from various nations, including 81 minors, were received in Costa Rica via two deportation flights from the U.S. These individuals were relocated to a remote facility near the Panamanian border, where they awaited either repatriation or asylum in third countries, leaving many trapped in a precarious legal limbo. The suit raises urgent questions about the conditions these children endure while separated from their families, amplifying calls for policy reform in light of their distressing circumstances.
