Fears grow after Nicaraguan critic murdered in Costa Rica

Political Instability and Violence - Nicaraguan military officer and activist Roberto Sam Cam Ruiz was murdered in Costa Rica, raising concerns about the silencing of dissenters outside Nicaragua [1] - Since 2018, six Nicaraguan opponents have been killed or abducted in Costa Rica [2] - The Nicaraguan government's crackdown on protests in 2018 resulted in over 300 deaths [2] - 300,000 Nicaraguans have sought asylum in Costa Rica due to the crackdown [3] - Another Nicaraguan government critic, Joel Maldonado, was shot in Costa Rica, marking the second attempt on his life in three years [4] Regional Impact and Response - The attacks aim to create a chilling effect on the Nicaraguan community abroad [4] - Costa Rica's president has previously denied the presence of Nicaraguan operatives in his country [5] - Many Nicaraguan exiles in Costa Rica are seeking new places to go due to targeted killings [6] International Policy - The Trump administration ended the refugee program that would have allowed Nicaraguan exiles to seek protection in the United States [5]