The Central American nation of Costa Rica has agreed to accept 25 migrants deported from the United States per week as part of a deal to assist with President Donald Trump's mass-deportation campaign. This move makes Costa Rica the latest country to sign a 'third-country' deportation agreement. The agreement has been met with criticism, with many experts warning that migrants who were previously hoping to seek asylum in the US are now left in a precarious situation in foreign countries where they may not speak the language.
Costa Rica's government has maintained that the deal is a "non-binding migration agreement" and that the country reserves the right to accept or reject proposed transfers. The deportees will be processed under Costa Rica's migration laws under a special migratory status. However, human rights advocates have expressed concerns that this move will put vulnerable populations at risk, particularly those being sent to countries where they may face persecution.
The agreement has been a contentious issue, with several countries across Africa and the Americas signing similar deals with the US to accept deportees from other countries. In recent years, countries such as South Sudan, Honduras, Rwanda, Guyana, and several Caribbean islands have signed such agreements. The US special envoy Kristi Noem, who was recently named to oversee the "Shield of the Americas", was instrumental in securing the deal with Costa Rica.
The latest development is a worrying sign for human rights in the region. The fact that Costa Rica, a country known for its progressive stance on human rights, has agreed to accept deportees from the US raises concerns about the treatment of these individuals. The spotlight will now be on Costa Rica to ensure that the deportees are treated fairly and humanely, and not sent back to countries where they may face persecution.
