Costa Rica

Advocacy for Costa Rica

What’s Happening?

Costa Rica has long been a bastion of protection in the Americas. In 2023, Costa Rica hosted nearly half a million displaced people, mostly from Nicaragua. The growing number of asylum applications has placed significant strain on Costa Rica’s protection systems and integration support – especially after the cuts to U.S. foreign assistance. Controversially, in early 2025, Costa Rica agreed to serve as a “bridge” for deported third country nationals from the United States, detaining them for months and denying access to services. Additionally, Costa Rica is now receiving an increase in “inverse migration” predominantly of Venezuelans returning to South America after being unable to enter the United States.

What Must Be Done?

Refugees International is advocating for increased support to Costa Rica’s asylum system and humanitarian support to organizations who serve to provide integration services to its asylum seeking population and emergency care services to migrants on the move. It also opposes Costa Rica serving as a “bridge” to repatriate third country nationals denied a chance to seek asylum in the United States.