What does the U.S.-Costa Rica migration deal really mean?

By multiple measures, Costa Rica can be described as the most stable nation in Central America. The country is that rare thing – a Latin American OECD member – and has spent more than 70 years without a military – a major factor behind political turmoil in multiple countries. As a consequence, it has historically managed to invest sizable chunks of its GDP in health and education, rather than defense.

For the U.S., Costa Rica is also a potentially powerful ally in containing illegal migration.

A few weeks ago, the U.S. and Costa Rica announced a joint Migration Arrangement, outlining the countries’ mutual commitment to working collaboratively on migration and protection issues. “Countries throughout the region have a shared responsibility to improve migration management and provide protection and legal pathways for the region’s most vulnerable people,” the U.S. Department of State said.

According to the UN Refugee Agency, nearly a million people in Central America and Mexico have fled their countries “due to violence, threats, extortion, gang recruitment or prostitution, lack of opportunities, the ravages of the pandemic and climate change.” Costa Rica is one of the main transit routes for civilians making their way toward the U.S.-Mexico border.

In the context of many states in the region struggling to stem the...