A complaint by 17 officers accuses a Costa Rican police chief of threats and xenophobic remarks against Nicaraguans

Seventeen agents of Costa Rica's Public Force filed a complaint against police deputy director Hidalgo Páez for alleged threats and xenophobic remarks. / (Illustrative image Infobae) A complaint filed by 17 agents of Costa Rica's Public Force targets a police chief in the province of Guanacaste for alleged threats, workplace retaliation, and xenophobic remarks against Nicaraguans. The case involves an official with command responsibilities in a border zone, where family, social, and labor ties between the two countries are frequent. According to the outlet La Mesa Redonda, the allegations fall on Hidalgo Páez, deputy director of the Eleventh Regional Directorate Chorotega Norte. The accusation was driven by the National Union of Police Officers (UNP), which requested an investigation into the events and a determination as to whether disciplinary proceedings should be opened. Costa Rica's Ministry of Public Security confirmed that an investigation is underway, though it provided no details on the scope of the proceedings or on possible measures against the official. The institution argued that due process must be respected. One of the central points of the complaint, according to La Mesa Redonda, concerns comments the deputy director allegedly made during induction activities for police personnel. According to the testimony gathered, the chief asked agents about the origin of their surnames, in a context where several officers had ancestry or relatives in Nicaragua. One complainant recounted that, after an agent mentioned that "we are all from the north" because of the existing ties with the neighboring country, the police chief allegedly reacted with mockery and a phrase about his rejection of Nicaraguans. The complaint attributes to him the expression "I hated nicas." The border province of Guanacaste shows habitual social, labor, and family integration between the populations of Costa Rica and Nicaraguans who have left their country due to the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo. / (Illustrative image Infobae) The complaint document, according to the outlet, also refers to a comment about the marriage between a Costa Rican person and a Nicaraguan woman, which he allegedly described as a "punishment from God." The agents consider that these statements reflect discriminatory treatment toward coworkers and citizens with ties to Nicaragua. The accusations gain relevance due to the location of the accused commander. Guanacaste maintains daily exchanges with Nicaraguan communities and with Costa Ricans who have relatives on the other side of the border. Xenophobia can affect both migrants and Costa Rican citizens because of their origin, surname, or family relationships. The 17 officers also reported alleged pressure within the workplace structure. According to the document, the deputy director allegedly intimidated officers who questioned his instructions or expressed disagreement with his demands. Among the phrases attributed to the police chief are warnings such as "you'll be transferred" or "you'll be crushed." The document also states that he allegedly said: "I speak only once. If you don't fall in line, I'll crush you. I don't keep the problem, I eliminate it," and "know that I am investigating you." The complainants maintain that there were threats, workplace harassment, the fabrication of false reports, and arbitrary transfers. They asserted that these behaviors generated fear, stress, and demotivation among the personnel, in addition to difficulties in carrying out their duties. The United Nations Agency for Refugees reported that Costa Rica hosts more than 194,000 Nicaraguan asylum seekers who have left their country due to the social and political situation. / (Illustrative image Infobae) For that reason, the agents decided to file the complaint anonymously. They argued that they feared workplace consequences if their identities were exposed to an authority with the power to influence their assignments, evaluations, and internal reports. The case arises in a country that has become one of the main destinations for those who left Nicaragua because of the political and human rights situation under the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo. Hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguans have sought protection outside their country since 2018, with Costa Rica as the main place of refuge. The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported that, in March 2025, Costa Rica was hosting more than 194,000 Nicaraguan asylum seekers and 9,216 recognized refugees of that nationality. The agency warned that the continuation of displacement and budget cuts are straining the Costa Rican protection system. The complaint questions that an official accused of comments against Nicaraguans holds a police command position in a region where that population is part of everyday life. The outlet La Mesa Redonda reported that it attempted to obtain Hidalgo Páez's version of events, but had not received a response at the time of publication.