Trending Now - Costa Rica to Welcome 25 Weekly Deportees From the U.S.
WHO:
Kristi Noem was recently named to oversee the so-called “Shield of the Americas”.
Mario Zamora Cordero stated, “Costa Rica is prepared to see this flow of people.”
President Trump
Kristi Noem, US special envoy
Mario Zamora Cordero, Costa Rican Public Security Minister
President Rodrigo Chaves, Costa Rican President
WHAT:
Costa Rica's government has called the pact a “non-binding migration agreement”.
The Costa Rican government reserves the right to accept or reject proposed transfers of deportees.
Costa Rica has already faced controversy for its treatment of 200 deportees from countries like Russia, China, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan received in 2025.
Costa Rica will accept 25 migrants deported from the United States per week.
The agreement is part of Trump’s policy of deporting immigrants to “third countries”.
Costa Rica's government described the pact as a “non-binding migration agreement”.
The Trump administration has spent at least $40 million to deport about 300 migrants to countries other than their own.
WHERE:
Costa Rica
Locations of other countries involved in similar agreements include South Sudan, Honduras, Rwanda, Guyana, Dominica, and St Kitts and Nevis.
WHEN:
The pact was signed on March 23rd, 2026, during a visit from US special envoy Kristi Noem.
The pact was signed on March 23rd, 2026.
Kristi Noem was fired from her role as secretary of Homeland Security earlier in March 2026.
The Costa Rican Supreme Court ordered the release of deportees in June 2025.
WHY:
The agreement aims to assist with Trump’s mass-deportation campaign and provide a mechanism for returning migrants who are in the US illegally.
HOW:
Zamora assured that the new round of deportees would be held in better conditions.
Costa Rica will work with the United Nations International Organization for Migration to house deportees.
The deportees will be processed under Costa Rica’s migration laws under a special migratory status.
Costa Rica reserves the right to accept or reject proposed transfers of deportees.
Costa Rica will work with the US to return migrants to their countries and with the United Nations International Organization for Migration to house deportees.
(UPDATED March 27, 2026 15:16 UTC)
On March 23, 2026, during a visit from US special envoy Kristi Noem, Costa Rica's government signed a non-binding migration agreement, which allows them to accept or reject proposed transfers of deportees. Mario Zamora Cordero emphasized that Costa Rica is prepared to manage the flow of people and assured that the new round of deportees would be held in better conditions, with support from the United Nations International Organization for Migration. This comes after controversy surrounding the treatment of 200 deportees from countries like Russia, China, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan received in 2025.
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(UPDATED March 27, 2026 05:34 UTC)
President Trump has reached an agreement with Costa Rica to accept 25 migrants deported from the United States each week, as part of his policy to deport immigrants to third countries. Signed on March 23, 2026, this non-binding migration agreement will see deportees processed under Costa Rica’s migration laws, while the country retains the right to accept or reject proposed transfers. Costa Rica will collaborate with the U.S. and the United Nations International Organization for Migration to manage the housing and return of these migrants.