Rapid U.S. Policy Shifts Threaten Humanitarian Protections for Migrants in Costa Rica, New Report Warns

Rapid and problematic shifts in U.S. policy under the Trump administration are undermining critical humanitarian protections for migrants and asylum seekers throughout the Americas—with severe consequences for Costa Rica, one of the United States’ closest regional allies and a long-standing safe haven for displaced people. 

In a joint report released today, Refugees International and the Women’s Refugee Commission detail how recent U.S. policy reversals and aid cuts have eliminated protection pathways and strained an already overburdened asylum system in Costa Rica. 

On January 20, 2025, the Trump administration abruptly canceled the CBP One appointment system — a pathway for people to seek refuge at the U.S.-Mexico border. Combined with escalating insecurity in Mexico, this has prompted migration south of vulnerable Venezuelan families into Costa Rica and Panama. At the same time, the humanitarian infrastructure that once supported migrants in the region has been hit by the global impact of U.S. aid cuts, leaving those traveling south without access to shelter, healthcare, food, or legal aid. 

Making matters worse, after the U.S. forcibly transferred two planeloads of primarily Asian and African asylum-seeking families from the U.S. border to Costa Rica, Costa Rican authorities repurposed the country’s only migrant reception center — the Temporary Attention Center for Migrants (CATEM) — to detain them. From late February to late April 2025, this decision left Venezuelan migrants stranded in southern Costa Rica without access to needed humanitarian services. 

“The humanitarian landscape in Costa Rica is vastly different from the last time I visited just a year ago. Although the number of people moving through the country is significantly less, the gutting of international aid means far fewer services are available to those who most need it,” said Rachel Schmidtke, Senior Advocate for Latin America at Refugees International. 

“Not only is the Trump administration pulling back U.S. aid, it is also denying people access to asylum, parole, and reunion with relatives in the United States and sending them to limbo in Costa Rica,” added Yael Schacher, Director for the Americas and Europe at Refugees International.  

The report calls on the Trump administration to immediately restore access to asylum at the U.S. border, end unlawful third-country transfers, and resume support for migrants in Costa Rica. It also urges Congress to restore U.S. funding for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and other humanitarian organizations operating in the region. 

We urge regional governments and international organizations to coordinate responses to southward migration, ensure safe transport and legal protections for migrants, and hold public hearings on the human rights implications of recent U.S. migration agreements. 

“We saw firsthand how quickly the U.S. deportation flights, closure of the U.S. border to asylum seekers, and cuts to foreign aid together caused needless harm to women and families,” said Melanie Nezer, Vice President, Advocacy and Communications, Women’s Refugee Commission. “Combined, these decisions by the U.S. are exposing women to more exploitation and violence, closing off the few available paths to safety, and overwhelming a fragile system of aid and support for migrants in Costa Rica. The U.S. and regional governments can mitigate some of this harm by prioritizing family unity and supporting safe travel and asylum. Everyone deserves a safe place to call home.” 

A Refugees International and Women’s Refugee Commission team traveled to San José and Paso Canoas in March 2025, interviewing migrants, local NGOs, and government officials. Repeated requests to visit detention centers were denied, but interviews with migrants and service providers, along with remote interviews with deported families, revealed harrowing conditions and an absence of viable resettlement options. 

About Refugees International 

Refugees International advocates for lifesaving assistance, human rights, and protection for displaced people. Working with partners around the world, Refugees International investigates the challenges displaced people face, develops policy solutions, mobilizes action, and holds the powerful to account. Refugees International believes that people experiencing displacement must be at the center of the movement to advance solutions and is dedicated to expanding the space for refugee leadership. To ensure the independence and credibility of its work, Refugees International does not accept government or UN funding. 

About the Women’s Refugee Commission 

The Women’s Refugee Commission improves the lives and protects the rights of women, children, and youth displaced by conflict and crisis. The organization researches their needs, identifies solutions, and advocates for programs and policies to strengthen their resilience and drive change in humanitarian practice. 

Media Contacts:
Etant Dupain, Refugees International | edupain@refugeesinternational.org
Diana Quick, Women’s Refugee Commission | dianaq@wrcommission.org 

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