Costa Rica has welcomed its first group of immigrants expelled from the United States as part of a new Third Country Agreement.
Recently, reports indicated that a plane carrying around 25 migrants arrived in Costa Rica. The group included individuals from countries like Albania, Cameroon, China, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Kenya, and Morocco.
This arrangement allows Costa Rica to accept up to 25 deported immigrants each week who are not citizens of either the U.S. or Costa Rica, highlighting the collaboration between the two countries.
According to a statement from Costa Rica’s Directorate General of Immigration and Foreigners, “Once in the country, the migrants will receive primary care from specialized immigration police, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM).”
Migrants are expected to go through Costa Rican legal channels. They will be granted temporary humanitarian protection while their cases are processed, with authorities ensuring no one is sent back to places where they may face persecution.
Costa Rica will evaluate each individual case to determine acceptance. In return, the U.S. is reportedly set to offer financial assistance, while the IOM will help provide essentials like food and accommodation for the first week of stay.
This agreement was formalized in late March during Kristi Noem’s tenure as Secretary of Homeland Security, and her subsequent role as Special Envoy for the Americas Shield during a visit to Latin America.
The U.S. State Department has described the American Shield initiative as a multinational effort aimed at combatting foreign interference, organized crime, and illegal immigration.
Noem stated, “We are very proud to have a partner like the president. [Chaves] and Costa Rica are committed to ensuring that those living in our country illegally have the opportunity to return to their home countries.”
The Trump administration’s aggressive stance on illegal immigration has faced significant backlash, particularly regarding forced deportations to third countries, which has been met with humanitarian concerns and financial scrutiny.
A report from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee earlier this year revealed that deportations can be quite costly, sometimes running into tens of millions. For instance, the cost of deportation to Rwanda exceeds $1 million per individual, while it’s roughly $20,000 for El Salvador.
Similar agreements, like the one with Costa Rica, are said to exist with other nations including Dominica, Guyana, Honduras, Rwanda, St. Kitts and Nevis, and South Sudan.
Last year, Costa Rica reportedly took in nearly 200 deported individuals from the U.S., granting special migration status to 85 when their home countries were deemed unsafe for return.
On March 24, the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica remarked, “Together, the United States and Costa Rica continue to achieve concrete results to eliminate mass illegal immigration, strengthen security, and promote regional stability.”
