Costa Rica signs immigration deal with U.S. 

Costa Rica announced on Tuesday it had signed a deal with the United States to strengthen immigration policing in the country after U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas met with Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado.

The letter of understanding signed by Mayorkas and Costa Rican Minister of Security Michael Soto pledges to address immigration by increasing policing efforts at the border and provide attention to migrants and refugees, reported Reuters. 

"The document seeks to generate options to strengthen the professional migration police and the border police of Costa Rica in all their capacities, strengthen the fight against the smuggling of migrants and human trafficking," the Costa Rican government's statement said.

"We selected Costa Rica as the first partner and friend to sign such an important agreement because of its leadership in the matters that impact the region and, quite frankly, the world,” Mayorkas said.

"This agreement speaks of possibilities. As the president of Costa Rica has addressed and as our president of the United States has addressed, it is all about possibilities and possibilities become realities when we invest."

Mayorkas’ visit comes after meeting with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to discuss immigration policy a day earlier and weeks after Costa Rica, Panama, and Mexico established new visa requirements that make it difficult for Venezuelans and Cubans to make their way to the U.S. through their territories.