Two Armenian women and their children were among 200 migrants deported from the U.S. to Costa Rica under a new policy initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump in February 2025.

According to Factor.am , only 16 of those deported—Chinese nationals—have applied for asylum. So far, 84 individuals have returned to their home countries, while 94 remain in Costa Rica.

Gohar Toplakaltsyan, 42, and Karine Avetyan shared their experiences with Telemundo. Toplakaltsyan said her husband and 13-year-old son have been in California for over a year, awaiting a decision on their asylum application. She traveled to the U.S. earlier this year with her two younger children but claims she was denied the opportunity to present her case.

“They tricked us at the border,” she said. “They told us we would be transferred to another crossing point in Arizona, but at 3 a.m. they put us on a military plane with armed soldiers. Our children were terrified. From Arizona, we were flown to Costa Rica.”

Karine Avetyan said she crossed the U.S. border from Mexico with her 8- and 12-year-old children on January 22, two days after Trump’s inauguration, aiming to reunite with her husband. After nearly a month in detention, they were deported to Costa Rica on February 20.

“We were forcibly put on a plane and illegally brought to Costa Rica,” she said. “My children are getting sick from the heat and mosquito bites. We didn’t seek asylum from them—I asked that from the United States. My kids are emotionally struggling without their father. Please help us. I am willing to wait as long as necessary to reach the U.S.”

Costa Rica’s government stated that the U.S. State Department is funding the International Organization for Migration to provide humanitarian aid and care to the deportees.

Meanwhile, the CATEM shelter in Corredores, near the Panamanian border, has come under criticism from human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, and some lawmakers.

Costa Rica’s Deputy Minister of the Interior and Police, Omer Badilla, said six people have left the shelter without authorization or documentation.

He outlined four options available to the deportees: return to their home country, seek asylum in Costa Rica, request asylum elsewhere, or remain at the shelter while awaiting a decision. He added that the authorities will not return their passports or identification documents until a choice is made.

According to Spanish-language sources, Costa Rica received two flights carrying migrants deported from the U.S., including citizens of Nepal, China, Russia, India, Congo, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ghana, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.