Costa Rica has received its first group of migrants deported from the United States under a newly implemented third-country resettlement agreement, marking a significant expansion of the Trump administrations strategy to curb illegal immigration and discourage abuse of the asylum system.
According to One America News, a chartered flight carrying roughly 25 migrants landed in Costa Rica on Saturday, with passengers originating from a wide range of nations including Albania, Cameroon, China, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Kenya and Morocco. The group represents the first wave under a bilateral arrangement in which Costa Rica has agreed to take in up to 25 third-country migrants per week, specifically individuals whose nationality is neither American nor Costa Rican.
Costa Ricas General Directorate of Migration and Foreigners outlined the initial reception process, stressing that basic needs and security protocols would be addressed upon arrival. Upon entering the country, the migrants will receive primary care from the Professional Migration Police, with the cooperation of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the agency said in a statement, per the New York Post.
Local outlet The Tico Times reported that the migrants will be processed under Costa Rican law and granted temporary humanitarian protection while authorities determine the next steps in each case. Officials have emphasized that they will not send individuals to countries where they may face persecution, a provision that allows Costa Rica to maintain a humanitarian posture while still cooperating with U.S. enforcement priorities.
Costa Rican authorities have also reserved the right to evaluate each migrant on a case-by-case basis, retaining national control over who is ultimately admitted or resettled. In exchange, the United States is expected to provide financial assistance, while the IOM will reportedly cover food and lodging for the first week of the migrants stay.
The agreement was finalized in late March as one of Kristi Noems last acts as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and her first major initiative in her new role as U.S. Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas. The U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica highlighted that the deal was signed during Noems visit to the country, underscoring Washingtons push to build a regional framework to deter mass migration and foreign interference.
The Shield of the Americas, as described by the U.S. State Department, is a multinational coalition aimed at countering foreign meddling in the Western Hemisphere, dismantling criminal gangs and cartels, and combating illegal and large-scale migration. Noem praised Costa Ricas cooperation, stating, We are very proud to have partners like President [Chaves] and Costa Rica, who are working to ensure that people who are in our country illegally have the opportunity to return to their countries of origin, according to The Post.
The Trump administrations broader crackdown on illegal immigration, including large-scale deportations and third-country transfers, has drawn fierce opposition from Democrats and progressive activists. Critics have focused on humanitarian concerns and financial costs, arguing that such policies are too harsh despite record border encounters and mounting pressure on U.S. communities and resources.
A February report by Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee claimed that third-country deportations have cost tens of millions of dollars, with some partner nations receiving substantial payments to accept migrants. The report alleged that deportations to at least one country, Rwanda, have cost more than $1 million per deportee, while the estimated cost per migrant in El Salvador is just over $20,000.
Media outlets have reported that arrangements similar to the Costa Rica deal are in place with several other nations, including Dominica, Guyana, Honduras, Rwanda, St. Kitts and Nevis, and South Sudan. These agreements collectively form a network of destinations intended to break the incentive structure that has encouraged illegal crossings and fraudulent asylum claims for years.
Costa Rica itself reportedly accepted nearly 200 migrants deported from the United States in 2025, with 85 of them later granted special migratory status after they could not be repatriated to their home countries. That experience appears to have laid the groundwork for the new, more formalized arrangement, which blends humanitarian protections with stricter enforcement of immigration laws.
The U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica framed the latest agreement as a tangible step toward restoring order at the border and stabilizing the region. Together, the United States and Costa Rica continue delivering concrete results to end mass and illegal migration, strengthen security, and promote regional stability, the embassy said in a March 24th statement announcing the deal, signaling that the administration intends to double down on partnerships that prioritize sovereignty, security, and the rule of law.
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