U.S. Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, Chairman of the House Subcommittee overseeing foreign assistance to support democracy and U.S. allies, said in a social media post that he is “deeply alarmed” by developments in Costa Rica as lawmakers consider a request to lift President Rodrigo Chaves-Robles’ immunity.

Díaz-Balart, a Republican who has served in Congress since 2002, represents Florida’s 26th District, which includes parts of northwestern Miami-Dade County such as Hialeah and areas of the northern Everglades.

The congressman visited Costa Rica in July as part of a bipartisan U.S. House delegation for high-level discussions on regional security, counter-narcotics efforts and transnational crime. During that visit, he met with President Chaves.

"The possibility that a sitting president, in one of the region’s most stable and longstanding democracies, could be removed over political speech, using procedures of questionable constitutionality, raises profound concerns," Díaz-Balart said.

Last week, Chaves appeared before lawmakers in San José to defend himself in a case that could result in Congress stripping him of presidential immunity. The session was part of Congress’ review of a request made by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), which is seeking to lift his immunity so it can pursue charges of political belligerence.

Under Costa Rican law, political belligerence refers to actions by public officials that are hostile, partisan or otherwise violate legal restrictions on political activity.

Díaz warned that removing a president just months before national elections through “ambiguous mechanisms” could undermine democratic legitimacy and send a “troubling signal.”

"Costa Rica has long served as a democratic benchmark and has been a crucial partner of the United States in advancing shared security priorities, including countering narcoterrorism, combating international crime, managing migration, and addressing anti-American threats," he said.

Because of these concerns, Díaz said he has requested a briefing from Catalina Crespo-Sancho, Costa Rica’s ambassador to the United States.

"This is a moment that requires transparency, clarity, and firm democratic commitment," he added.

Crespo, who has led Costa Rica’s embassy in Washington, D.C., since March 2023, is expected to address the discussions she held with the congressman.

This marks the second time Chaves (and any Costa Rican president) has faced an immunity challenge in Congress. In September, lawmakers rejected a proposal to lift his immunity in a corruption case involving allegations of concussion, a white-collar crime in which a public official unlawfully demands or accepts money, services or valuables while performing official duties.

The TSE officially launched the 2026 presidential race in October. More than 3.7 million registered voters (including about 63,000 Costa Ricans living abroad) are expected to head to the polls on Feb. 1, 2026. Voters will elect a new president and all 57 members of the Legislative Assembly for the 2026–2030 term.

The TSE is an independent public institution that oversees all presidential elections and national referendums in Costa Rica.