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Serious human rights crisis due to mass deportations from the U.S.

Serious human rights crisis due to mass deportations from the U.S.

‍La International Human Rights Network Europe (RIDHE) - Costa Rica , confirms its support and support for the Network for the Protection, Defense and Promotion of Human Rights in Nicaragua (ProdePaz Network (Nicaragua) to continue looking for solutions and respond to the humanitarian crises in Nicaragua. Together, we express our deep concern about the crisis of human rights violations resulting from the mass deportations implemented by the administration of President Donald Trump.

These measures put at imminent risk thousands of Nicaraguans who have fled political persecution and widespread violence in their country, in open violation of international refugee law.

On January 20, President Trump signed executive orders that tighten immigration policies and suspend the admission of refugees for 90 days under programs such as “Safe Mobility”, developed in collaboration with United Nations agencies. This decision affects more than 23,000 refugees in the region, including 2,340 Nicaraguans who had been resettled in Costa Rica.

According to data from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE), up to November 2024, at least 45,995 Nicaraguans were in the process of deportation. Unlike other countries in the region, Daniel Ortega's government has been silent and has not announced measures to receive and guarantee the safety of its deported citizens.

La RIDHE Costa Rica and the ProdePaz Nicaragua Network Remember that the principle of non-refoulement is a fundamental norm of international law, enshrined in the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and other human rights instruments. Deporting people to a country where their life, liberty, or integrity are at risk constitutes a serious violation of the United States' international human rights obligations.

In Nicaragua, systematic repression against opponents, journalists and human rights defenders has been amply documented. In the last seven years, at least 229 political prisoners have been victims of torture and inhuman treatment, including beatings, suffocation, electric shocks and sexual violence. Deporting people to this context is, in practice, exposing them to more persecution and violence.

From the RIDHE and the ProdePaz Nicaragua Network, we condemn the Trump administration's immigration policies, which far from responding to human rights standards, are discriminatory, inhuman and chaotic. These measures not only affect people with criminal records, but they criminalize the entire migrant population, including asylum seekers with urgent protection needs.

We make an urgent call to the immediate suspension of these deportations and to guarantee the right of refugees to seek asylum without retaliation. We also urge the international community to strengthen protection and resettlement mechanisms for Nicaraguan people at risk.

The RIDHE as an organization committed to the fundamental values of the European Union and the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we reaffirm our commitment to the defense of fundamental rights, human dignity and access to justice. We urge EU member states to comply with their international obligations and to strengthen reception policies that reflect the commitments made in the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions. Only through a global response based on cooperation, respect for human rights and solidarity, can we guarantee effective protection for those who have been forced to flee violence and persecution.
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