MEXICO CITY — A U.S. flight carrying 135 deportees, including a significant number of minors, was scheduled to arrive in Costa Rica on Thursday. This marks Costa Rica as the second Latin American country to participate as a layover location amid the increasing deportation efforts of the U.S. government under the Trump administration.
Upon their arrival, the deported migrants will be transported from the capital city to a rural holding facility situated near the border with Panama. Here, they can expect to remain for as long as 30 days while arrangements are made for their return to their home countries, according to Omer Badilla, the country’s deputy minister of the interior and police. The expenses incurred from this operation will be covered by the U.S. government.
This arrangement is part of a broader agreement made during Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent visit to Costa Rica earlier in the month. Similar pacts have been established with various Latin American countries, yet the concept of using third nations as deportation hubs has ignited significant backlash from human rights officials and advocates.
Concerns are being raised not only about the conditions these individuals will face while detained in Costa Rica but also about the necessary international protections for those seeking asylum. Additionally, there are questions regarding whether proper screening will be conducted before these deportees are sent back to their countries or redirected elsewhere.
Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves expressed that his country is assisting its “economically powerful brother from the north,” alluding to the pressure the Trump administration has placed on regional nations to facilitate deportations, sometimes threatening heavy tariffs or sanctions as a means of coercion.
This week, Panama became the first Latin American country to receive 299 deportees from elsewhere, accommodating them in hotel rooms under police supervision. A portion of those who declined to return voluntarily has been transferred to a remote camp located in Darien province, which borders Colombia, while others await commercial flights to their home countries.
Detained individuals have voiced their distress, with some displaying signs like “please help us” and “We are not safe in our country” pressed against the windows of their hotel rooms.
Badilla indicated to reporters that precautions are in place to prevent a similar situation to that occurring in Panama, declaring, “We’ve eliminated the possibility of using hotels for detention to avoid any issues.”
Most of the deportees on Thursday’s flight out of San Diego are expected to be families, with 65 minors and two pregnant women included in the group. Costa Rica was informed by U.S. authorities that a majority of the migrants have agreed to return willingly to their nations of origin. Should any refuse to comply, Costa Rica is prepared to offer refuge or collaborate with the U.N.’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) to facilitate relocation to another country.
“We are a nation committed to human rights,” Badilla affirmed. “It is imperative we ensure their return is to safe environments, as this reflects our ethical and moral obligations.”
While detained, these migrants will receive oversight from U.N. representatives, the Red Cross, and various government aid agencies to assure their rights are upheld, according to Badilla.
The facility utilized for holding these migrants, a repurposed factory, has previously faced criticism regarding its conditions. During a visit by reporters in October 2023, individuals were observed confined in tight quarters, expressing feelings of entrapment resembling “prisoners.” Many were forced to sleep in tents on the floor with claims of waste from portable toilets leaking nearby. Although Badilla mentioned that improvements have been made since, access to the site has been denied to journalists.
The IOM issued a statement underscoring its stance, clarifying that it is not involved directly in the detention or movement restrictions of these individuals. Instead, they are focusing on providing humanitarian assistance, facilitating voluntary returns, and seeking safe alternatives for those in need.
“Our mission is to ensure that every migrant is treated with dignity and in line with international standards,” the agency asserted.
