Puntarenas Province, Coloradito

Centro de Atención Temporal para Migrantes (CATEM Sur)

Costa Rica

Status

In use

2025

Type: Immigration detention centre (Administrative)

Custodial Authority: Dirección de Migración y Extranjería

Management: Dirección de Migración y Extranjería (Governmental)

Detains: Adult women, Adult men, Accompanied minors, Asylum seekers (administrative), Undocumented migrants (administrative)

Capacity Conditions complaints? Reported population
300
YES

2025

No Data
Costa Rica

31,632

Refugees

217,889

Asylum Applications

To country overview
ABOUT

A former factory, the 'Centro de Atención Temporal a Migrantes' (CATEM) was opened in 2023 to provide temporary shelter to migrants and asylum seekers. Migrants could come and go as they pleased, receive food, and stay the night before continuing their journey. In 2025, however, the facility transitioned into a detention centre when the country agreed to accept some 200 non-Costa Rican deportees. Amongst them were 80 children. Nationalities included Afghans, Russians, Armenians, Iranians, and Chinese.

FACILITY NAMES
Centro de Atención Temporal para Migrantes (CATEM Sur)

Alternative Names: Temporary Attention Center for Migrants

Location

Country: Costa Rica

City & Region: Puntarenas Province, Coloradito, Americas

Latitude, Longitude: 8.60947658240306, -82.9001228043529

MANAGEMENT & BUDGET

Center Status
Status
Year
In use
2025
Facility type
Category
Type
Year
Administrative
Immigration detention centre
2025
National typology
Official Typology
Year
Migratory Station South/Estación Migratoria Sur (Emisur)
2026
Centro de Atención Temporal para Migrantes
2025
Management
Management
Type
Year
Dirección de Migración y Extranjería
Governmental
2025
Custodial Authorities
Agency
Ministry
Ministry type
Year
Dirección de Migración y Extranjería
Ministerio de Gobernación
Interior or Home Affairs
2026
Operating Period
Year of entry
Year ceased
2023

DETAINEES

Demographics

Adult women

2025

Adult men

2025

Accompanied minors

2025
Categories of detainees

Undocumented migrants (administrative)

2025

Asylum seekers (administrative)

2025
At-Risk Populations

Elderly (over 60)

2025

Pregnant women

2025

SIZE & POPULATION

Capacity (specialised migration-related facility)

Type Standard capacity

Capacity 300

2025

LENGTH OF DETENTION

OUTCOMES

CONDITIONS

Inadequate conditions
Inadequate Conditions
Obvs. Date
2025
2025
2025
2025

CARCERAL INDICATORS

STAFF

SEGREGATION

CELLS

COMMUNAL SPACE & ACTIVITIES

Activities/Education for Children

Activities/Education for Children No

2025

HEALTH

Doctor on Duty

Frequency No Doctor on Duty

2025

MONITORING & ACCESS

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Internet Access

Internet Access No

2025