Under escalating pressure from the Trump administration, Costa Rica and Honduras have joined Panama as temporary detention hubs for migrants deported from the U.S. A flight carrying 135 deportees—including 65 children—landed in San José this week, marking Costa Rica’s entry into controversial agreements to hold foreign nationals while their repatriations are processed. U.S.-backed deportation policies now rely on third countries to manage growing migrant flows, with critics condemning ethical lapses and inadequate safeguards for asylum seekers.
The deportees, originating from Uzbekistan, China, Afghanistan, and Russia, will be transferred to a rural detention facility near Panama’s border. Costa Rican officials confirmed the U.S. government will cover all costs for their six-week detention before repatriation flights. Deputy Interior Minister Omer Badilla stated the facility will host U.N. and Red Cross observers to “guarantee human rights,” though past reports reveal overcrowding and unsanitary conditions at the site.
“We’re helping our economically powerful brother from the north,” said Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves, defending the arrangement negotiated during U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit.
Similar operations are underway regionally:
- Panama detains 299 migrants in policed hotels, relocating some to remote camps.
- Honduras facilitated a “humanitarian bridge” for 170 Venezuelans deported via Guantanamo Bay.
Human rights organizations warn that fast-tracked deportations may bypass critical screenings for asylum eligibility. Migrant advocates emphasize risks of returning individuals to unsafe conditions, citing reduced transparency as Costa Rica restricts media access to detention sites. Meanwhile, the U.N.’s International Organization for Migration clarified it does not participate in detentions but assists with voluntary returns.
As U.S. deportation flights intensify, Central American nations face mounting ethical dilemmas—balancing diplomatic ties with humane treatment of vulnerable populations.