Costa Rica close to signing agreement with U.S. to repatriate migrants heading north, official says

Since these tactics were employed, crossings from the southern border have decreased 40% from an all-time high in December 2023. (Credit: AFP)

Costa Rica and the United States are close to finalizing a voluntary repatriation agreement for migrants, modeled after a similar deal between the Biden administration and Panama signed earlier this month.

Costa Rican Foreign Minister Arnoldo André confirmed the negotiations, adding that the initiative emerged during his visit to the U.S., which included a meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken on July 17, CNN reported.