"The Terminal" Live in Costa Rica
Something comparable to the Tom Hanks film, The Terminal, Johandry Núñez Figueroa, a Cuban national, has been living in the corridors of the Juan Santamaría International (San José) airport for the last 12 days.

Figueroa attempted to enter Costa Rica with a fake visa and was detained by immigration officials. However, when they attempted to deport the man, he presented an action of Habeas Corpus before the Sala Constitucional (Constitutional Court) which impeded his deportation.

At first it was thought that the man was tied to an international drug trafficking ring, the reason for a secondary inspection of his documents. Ana Durán, viceministera de Gobernación, said that is when they detected the false visa.

Durán added that the Constitutional Court rejected the Habeas Corpus action, however, the man requested an expansion to the action and is now at the mercy of the courts to decide his fate.

Meanwhile the Cuban remains in the Juan Santamaría terminal building since he has not entered the country formally and it is the only place he can remain while the courts make a decision.

Figueroa is under the constant supervision of immigration officials and the Fuerza Pública (police), who have provide the man a cot and is using the airports sanitary services for his is personal hygiene.

"What this means is a having to provide an immigration official full time, at the cost of taking away from our manpower resources", said Durán.

The Viceministra added that she is asking the Ministerio de Seguridad to investigate how the man got the fake documents before a court decision and deport the man to his country of origin.

Authorities are not permitting Figueroa to talk to the press, saying that he is temporarily considered a refugee and is protected by the Geneva Convention.