U.S. to Fund Deportation Efforts in Costa Rica Under New $7.85 Million Initiative

Washington / San José — The U.S. State Department is preparing to allocate up to $7.85 million to support Costa Rica’s deportation operations, according to an internal government document reviewed by Reuters. The funding marks part of a broader strategy to manage migration flows through Central America, echoing a controversial 2024 agreement between the Biden administration and Panama.

The initiative, coordinated between the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), will transfer funds from the State Department’s Economic Support Fund—typically reserved for economic development in allied nations—to facilitate immigration enforcement in collaboration with Costa Rican authorities.

According to the document, the goal is to assist Costa Rica in deporting migrants who are transiting the country en route to the United States, particularly those lacking legal grounds for asylum or international protection.

“The program will build the capacity of Costa Rican immigration authorities to stem illegal migration through its borders, while also providing training and resources on asylum screening,” a State Department spokesperson said.

Modelled After Biden-Era Policy in Panama

The Costa Rica plan is modeled in part on the 2024 U.S.–Panama agreement, under which the United States funded Panama’s efforts to detain and deport migrants crossing the Darién Gap. That deal, while designed to manage migration surges, drew sharp criticism from migrant rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers, who warned it risked undermining access to the U.S. asylum system for vulnerable populations.

While the exact timing of the Costa Rica program remains unclear, the document outlines provisions for technical assistance, logistical support, and air transportation to facilitate deportation proceedings. The document notes that operations would target individuals without valid protection claims or legal status.

“The Department intends to support the Government of Costa Rica in conducting deportation operations of migrants that do not have international protections or other legal grounds to remain,” the document states.

Growing U.S. Reliance on Regional Deportation Frameworks

Since President Donald Trump assumed office in January, his administration has increasingly leaned on bilateral arrangements to facilitate deportations from the U.S., including with countries that have minimal or no ties to the individuals being removed. These moves have prompted concerns about human rights risks, especially in nations with limited institutional capacity or fragile political conditions.

Earlier this year, Costa Rica agreed to a U.S. request to accept 200 migrants from Africa, Asia, and Europe who had entered the U.S. unlawfully. The original plan was for Costa Rica to repatriate them to their countries of origin, but dozens remain in Costa Rica.

The current funding initiative is expected to focus less on repatriating migrants removed from the U.S. and more on managing regional migration by intercepting and deporting individuals traveling through Central America. However, the document does not specify which countries the migrants will be returned to, raising the possibility of third-country deportations.

Migration Trends and Political Context

U.S. officials note that northward migration through Costa Rica has slowed considerably in recent months, particularly through the Darién Gap corridor. Simultaneously, some Venezuelan migrants are reportedly turning back southward through Costa Rica, discouraged by the Trump administration’s revocation of humanitarian parole programs and heightened immigration enforcement.

While the Costa Rican government has yet to formally comment, both the Ministries of Public Security and Immigration referred media inquiries to the Presidency and Foreign Affairs Ministry, which have not responded.

Wider Regional Engagement

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has visited several Latin American countries in recent months, including Costa Rica, Panama, El Salvador, and Chile, as part of Washington’s evolving regional immigration strategy. It remains unclear whether the administration intends to replicate this funding model in other nations.

As implementation details await further clarification, the plan underscores a growing U.S. focus on outsourcing border control efforts to transit countries—a strategy that continues to stir debate over the balance between immigration enforcement and the protection of asylum seekers.