Costa Rica has received 150 foreign nationals deported from the United States since a new bilateral agreement on illegal immigration took effect in April, according to the General Directorate of Migration (DGME).

Authorities said the latest flight arrived at Juan Santamaría International Airport in Alajuela Province carrying 25 deportees. The group included 12 women and 13 men from Colombia, Brazil, Vietnam, China, Bolivia and Azerbaijan.

The arrival marked the seventh deportation flight from the United States to Costa Rica under the agreement, bringing the total number of migrants received to 150. Costa Rica accepted its first deportation flight in April.

The migrants are being received under a memorandum of understanding signed in March by then-President Rodrigo Chaves Robles and Kristi Noem, secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Under the agreement, deported migrants are exempt from Costa Rica's visa requirements and receive assistance from the Professional Migration Police and representatives of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The IOM provides lodging, food and humanitarian assistance for up to six months after arrival. The support is intended to cover housing, health care and food expenses during that period.

Migrants may also choose to pay for their own housing and live freely anywhere in Costa Rica, provided they continue participating in their immigration proceedings.

Through a special humanitarian visa category, migrants are allowed to remain legally in the country. Those who choose may also apply for refugee status, which provides additional benefits, including access to medical care.

If migrants decide to leave Costa Rica, they must notify authorities. They may either pay for their own travel expenses or request assistance through the IOM's Assisted Voluntary Return program to return to their countries of origin.

The deportation agreement stems from commitments made during the Summit of the Americas. The broader regional initiative seeks to strengthen cooperation among Latin American countries in combating organized crime.

As part of those efforts, Costa Rica extradited two of its citizens to the United States in March on drug trafficking charges, marking the first time the country sent its own nationals abroad to face criminal prosecution.

Authorities said more information regarding upcoming deportation flights is expected in the coming days.

In February 2025, Costa Rica agreed to receive approximately 200 undocumented migrants deported from the United States.

The DGME, Costa Rica's immigration authority, oversees visas, residency permits, work authorizations and other immigration-related processes for foreign nationals residing in the country.

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What additional measures should Costa Rica take to support migrants deported from the United States? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com

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