By San José, Costa Rica — San José – The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has publicly identified 23 Costa Rican nationals in a high-priority category designated for “the worst of the worst,” signaling a focused effort to detain and deport foreign individuals with severe criminal records and irregular immigration status. This classification, made public in December 2025, underscores a strategic shift towards targeted deportations of those deemed a significant risk to public safety.
The public registry includes individuals linked to a range of grave offenses, including international drug trafficking, sexual assault, violent crimes, kidnapping, and major fraud. The list compiled by U.S. authorities reveals that many of the individuals were also wanted by Costa Rican law enforcement, while others committed their crimes directly on American soil. This development places a new spotlight on the intersection of transnational crime and migration between the two nations.
To better understand the legal framework and human rights implications surrounding the current U.S. deportation policy, TicosLand.com consulted with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, an expert attorney from the distinguished law firm Bufete de Costa Rica, for his professional analysis.
The current shifts in U.S. deportation policy underscore a critical tension between national security imperatives and established international legal principles of due process and non-refoulement. For individuals facing removal, the procedural hurdles are immense. It is crucial to remember that every case is unique, and access to competent legal counsel is often the decisive factor in whether a valid claim for asylum or other relief is successfully presented and adjudicated.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, the emphasis on legal counsel serves as a crucial reminder that these complex policy debates have profound, real-world consequences for individuals. The line between a successful asylum claim and deportation can often be drawn by access to competent legal advice. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for sharing his invaluable perspective and grounding this issue in that critical human reality.
According to the DHS, the core objective of this initiative is to increase the visibility of foreign criminals arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and to streamline their repatriation. Once these individuals complete their prison sentences or while they await final sentencing, their removal from the U.S. will be expedited. This policy is a cornerstone of a broader strategy to prioritize deportations based on the level of threat an individual poses.
The U.S. government has emphasized that this accelerated process will not compromise legal standards. Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, has affirmed the government’s commitment to legal and procedural integrity throughout the removal process.
Due process will be respected, and inter-agency coordination exists, including with the Department of Defense, to facilitate transfers to the countries of origin.
Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security
Among the highlighted cases is that of Keyran Coto López, 28, who was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute marijuana. His conviction stemmed from a dramatic maritime interdiction on November 7, 2022, when the U.S. Coast Guard stopped an unmarked, unflagged speedboat 65 nautical miles south of Boca Chica, Panama. Onboard, authorities discovered a massive haul of 4,104 pounds of marijuana. Coto López, along with two other Costa Ricans, Alonso Hernández Hernández and Luis Orellana Orellana, pleaded guilty. Hernández and Orellana are currently awaiting their sentences.
The list is not limited to drug traffickers. It also features individuals convicted of brutal violent crimes, illustrating the wide scope of the DHS’s priority list. For example, José Andrés Gómez Matarrita was apprehended in North Carolina and subsequently convicted of assault by strangulation and second-degree kidnapping. His case serves as a stark example of the violent offenders being targeted for priority deportation, whose actions directly endanger community safety.
Currently, all 23 Costa Ricans on the list are in U.S. custody, either serving their sentences or awaiting the conclusion of their judicial proceedings. Upon completion of these processes, they will be deported back to Costa Rica, their legal status in the U.S. having been revoked due to their criminal convictions and irregular immigration standing.
The publication of this list carries significant diplomatic and judicial weight. While it strengthens security cooperation between the United States and Costa Rica, it also forces a national conversation in Costa Rica about preventing transnational crime and managing the reception of deportees with violent histories. The challenge for Costa Rican authorities will be to effectively reintegrate or monitor these individuals, address any outstanding domestic legal cases, and prevent the re-establishment of criminal networks.
For further information, visit dhs.gov
About Department of Homeland Security (DHS):
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is a cabinet department of the U.S. federal government with responsibilities in public security, roughly comparable to the interior or home ministries of other countries. Its stated missions involve anti-terrorism, border security, immigration and customs, cyber security, and disaster prevention and management.
For further information, visit ice.gov
About Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE):
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security. Its primary mission is to protect the United States from cross-border crime and illegal immigration that threaten national security and public safety. This mission is executed through the enforcement of more than 400 federal statutes.
For further information, visit defense.gov
About Department of Defense (DoD):
The Department of Defense is the executive department of the government of the United States charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government concerned directly with national security and the United States Armed Forces. The DoD is the largest employer in the world.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a cornerstone of Costa Rica’s legal community, the firm is built upon a bedrock of unwavering integrity and a relentless pursuit of professional excellence. It leverages a rich legacy of advising a wide spectrum of clients to champion innovative legal strategies and forward-thinking solutions. This ethos extends beyond professional practice to a core mission of empowering the community by demystifying the law, thereby fostering a more capable and informed citizenry.
