Monteverde, Costa Rica has become an unexpected refuge for families displaced by U.S. deportations under the Trump administration. A coalition of locals, expatriates, and Quaker pacifists has established a makeshift shelter system in the cloud forest village, offering asylum seekers housing, legal aid, and community support. The effort emerged after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) intensified removals of non-citizens deemed threats to national security, disproportionately affecting Central American and Middle Eastern nationals.

Among those finding safety in Costa Rica is Vusala Yusifova, a 32-year-old Azerbaijani woman and her daughter Inji, who fled Baku after political unrest. Now working as a hairdresser in Monteverde, Yusifova describes the town’s residents as “angels in flannel shirts” who provided emergency funds and helped navigate asylum paperwork. The Quaker-led network, which includes U.S. expats and international NGOs, has distributed over $50,000 in emergency grants to 12 families since January 2026, according to local organizers.

This grassroots response highlights tensions between U.S. immigration policies and Latin American humanitarian values. While Costa Rica lacks formal refugee status for deportees, its abolition of military and emphasis on human rights has made it a de facto safe haven. Legal experts warn, however, that prolonged stays risk deportation to third countries or U.S. pressure to repatriate residents.

Experts caution that such informal networks face sustainability challenges. Without federal support, organizers rely on dwindling donations and face potential raids. Yet for families like the Yusifovas, Monteverde represents more than survival—it’s a testament to cross-border solidarity amid political upheaval.