Map Showing Refugee Cases in Costa Rica (La Nacion)
A total of 1,355 cases are waiting for hearings before a special administrative court, setup to hear immigration cases. Although the court opened it doors in May of 2011, it could only resolve 47 percent of cases in that year and 41 percent in 2012. The court is the first to hear refugee cases and appeals of decisions made by immigration officals, such as denials of residency applications. It’s hoped that adding four attorneys and two administrative employees in 2014 will speed up the normal 6 months delay to process a case.