US-Costa Rica third-country deportation scheme formalized, shifts to hotels in San José

Costa Rica has formalized a 'third country' agreement with the US to receive deportees, transitioning from an improvised border facility (CATEM) to hotels in San José with IOM support. The scheme, which began in 2025, now provides clearer legal status for deportees who choose to stay. This marks a notable institutionalization of a previously ad hoc arrangement, potentially setting a precedent for other countries in the region.