Costa Rica to accept 25 ‘third country’ deportees from US every week
SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica — Costa Rica has announced that it will receive 25 migrants deported from the United States each week as part of an agreement to support the Trump administration’s new policy of deporting immigrants to “third countries.”
This decision aligns Costa Rica with other nations in Africa and the Americas that have entered into similar agreements with the U.S. in response to President Trump’s demands. This move has left many migrants who were seeking asylum in the U.S. stranded in foreign countries where they are unfamiliar with the language.
Countries that have agreed to accept third-party migrants include South Sudan, Honduras, Rwanda, Guyana, as well as several Caribbean islands like Dominica and St. Kitts and Nevis.
Costa Rica’s Public Security Minister, Mario Zamora Cordero, stated in a video message that the country is prepared to handle this influx of deportees. The agreement was signed during a visit by U.S. special envoy Kristi Noem, who has been traveling through Latin America following her dismissal from the role of Homeland Security Secretary earlier this month.
The pact signed by Costa Rica is described as a “non-binding migration agreement,” allowing the U.S. to transfer foreign nationals, who are not citizens of Costa Rica, to the country. The government emphasized that they have the right to accept or reject proposed transfers and that deportees will be processed under Costa Rica’s migration laws.
However, such transfers have faced criticism for endangering vulnerable populations and potentially sending them to unsafe destinations where they may face persecution. Costa Rica itself has faced backlash for its treatment of previous deportees, leading to lawsuits and allegations of human rights violations.
In response to concerns, Zamora assured that the new deportees would be held in improved conditions and that collaboration with the U.S. and international organizations would ensure their safe return to their home countries. The government aims to provide the best possible care for deportees during their stay in Costa Rica.
This move by Costa Rica reflects a wider trend of countries entering into agreements with the U.S. to facilitate deportations, a practice that has drawn criticism for circumventing laws protecting individuals from potential harm in their home countries.
The Trump administration’s efforts to deport migrants to third countries have been met with financial costs and legal challenges, as highlighted in a report by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee earlier this year.
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Janetsky reported from Mexico City.
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