Additional Coverage:
- Elderly Irishman deported from US to Costa Rica under controversial ‘third country’ deal (irishstar.com)
An elderly Irishman was deported to Costa Rica under a contentious agreement between the United States and Costa Rica, marking a new chapter in the Trump administration’s intensified deportation efforts.
The man arrived in Costa Rica last Friday as part of a group of 22 deportees, reflecting a surge in Irish nationals being removed from the U.S. Deportations of Irish citizens have notably increased, rising from 15 cases in 2024 to 65 last year. In an effort to expedite removals, U.S. authorities have been sending individuals to countries with which they have little or no connection.
Shannon Airport in County Clare has become a frequent refueling point for flights involved in these deportation operations. According to Costa Rica’s General Directorate of Migration and Foreigners (DGME), the Irish deportee arrived alongside others from diverse nations including Brazil, Romania, Uzbekistan, China, Azerbaijan, India, Belarus, and Vietnam.
The DGME noted that the Irishman was “elderly” and that one Romanian deportee was a minor. Upon arrival, deportees receive primary care, which includes explanations of the process through translators and health checks conducted in partnership with the Red Cross.
Costa Rican authorities have stated that the Irishman will be offered support to facilitate his return to Ireland through a program managed by the International Organization for Migration. Alternatively, he may apply to remain in Costa Rica on humanitarian grounds.
This deportation is part of the second group sent under a recent bilateral agreement signed last month by Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves. The deal authorizes up to 25 deportations per week from the U.S. to Costa Rica.
However, the agreement has drawn significant criticism from human rights organizations. Groups such as Human Rights First and Amnesty International have condemned the U.S. for conducting deportations to countries where deportees have no established ties, labeling these actions as violations of international law. They have also urged the Irish government to halt the use of Shannon Airport as a refueling stop for these flights, accusing the U.S. of engaging in “inhuman, cruel, and extreme” immigration practices.
Stephen Bowen, executive director of Amnesty International Ireland, emphasized Ireland’s sovereign rights over its airspace and territory, calling on the government to refuse complicity in the U.S. deportation regime. The controversy continues to spotlight the broader ethical and legal challenges surrounding international deportation policies.