Costa Rica as a Destination for Migrants in Need of International Protection: IMR Country Report

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Migration Studies
• International Relations

Background:

• Migrants in need of protection (MNP) are an increasing global and Costa Rican demographic.
• Research on MNP and their migration dynamics is underdeveloped compared to other migrant groups.
• Costa Rica hosts a large, diverse, and growing MNP population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight Costa Rica as a strategic location for MNP research.
• To explore the diversity within MNP populations in Costa Rica.
• To identify research opportunities concerning MNP motivations, incorporation, and social networks.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of existing data and literature.
• Case study approach focusing on Costa Rica.
• Exploration of opportunities for primary data collection.

Main Results:

• Costa Rica's MNP population is diverse in origin, demographics, and migration motivations.
• This diversity allows for in-depth study of threat heterogeneity and incorporation factors.
• Geographic concentration facilitates primary data collection and demographic characterization.

Conclusions:

• Costa Rica is an instrumental site for advancing research on migrants in need of protection.
• Further research can elucidate MNP incorporation, social network development, and demographic characteristics.
• The study underscores the need for more focused research on MNP globally.