Refugees International on Saturday condemned a new US agreement that diverts funds originally slated for economic development to Costa Rica deportation efforts.
The organization denounced the deal as a dangerous extension of “outsourced” immigration enforcement by the Trump administration, claiming it is a “misuse of US funding” and urging authorities to redirect resources towards strengthening the asylum framework of Costa Rica. Concerns over the agreement come at a time when migration through the Darién Gap has reportedly dropped by nearly 100 percent.
“There is no justification for using State Department funds to finance deportations instead of helping Costa Rica process and integrate forcibly displaced people,” Rachel Schmidtke, Senior Advocate for Latin America, said.
Refugees International’s Director for the Americas and Europe, Yael Schacher, further warned that the US is using third-country agreements to undermine the international protections. “This is a counterproductive and inhumane race to the bottom,” Schacher said, calling on Congress to scrutinize the use of appropriated funds and urging foreign governments to resist complacency.
According to a State Department document reportedly released Friday, up to $7.85 million will be reallocated from the Economic Support Fund to the Department of Homeland Security to implement deportations in coordination with the Costa Rican government. The fund is typically intended for economic development assistance and not immigration enforcement.
The program is similar to a previous program set in place by the Biden administration, which also drew criticism from immigration and refugee rights groups.
Refugees International’s statement echoes broader concerns raised by rights groups earlier this year. In March, multiple groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, urged Panama to halt its participation in similar US influenced deportation schemes involving asylum seekers from countries like Afghanistan, China, and Iran.