In a significant move reflecting the Trump administration's intensified efforts to curb illegal immigration, the United States has deported 135 migrants to Costa Rica.
This group, comprising individuals from countries such as Uzbekistan, China, Afghanistan, and Russia, includes 65 minors, two pregnant women, and an elderly individual. The deportees were flown from San Diego, California, to San José, Costa Rica, and subsequently transported to a detention facility near the Panama border.
They are permitted to stay in Costa Rica for up to six weeks, during which arrangements for their voluntary return to their countries of origin will be coordinated. This development positions Costa Rica alongside Panama and Honduras as nations agreeing to temporarily host deportees from the U.S., a decision influenced by potential U.S. tariffs on their goods.
While the U.S. bears the associated costs, concerns have been raised regarding the conditions and international protections for the deportees, especially concerning human rights and appropriate screening.
The Costa Rican government has assured that it will provide refugee options or collaborate with the U.N.'s International Organization for Migration to find safe alternatives, emphasizing their commitment to human rights.