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U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica Mandates Public Social Media for Student Visas

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U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica Mandates Public Social Media for Student Visas

The U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica announced a new rule for anyone applying for F, M, or J nonimmigrant visas, which cover academic students, vocational students, and exchange program participants like professors, researchers, and au pairs. Starting immediately, applicants must set all their social media profiles to “public” to allow U.S. authorities to review their online activity as part of the visa process. This change aims to verify applicants’ identities and ensure they pose no threat to the United States, according to a statement posted on the embassy’s social media.

The U.S. State Department says visa decisions are tied to national security, so they’re using every tool available, including social media, to screen applicants. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube will be checked for content that might show hostility toward the U.S., its citizens, or its values. Applicants don’t need to share passwords, but they must remove privacy settings to give consular officers full access to their posts, photos, and videos. The embassy stressed that this step helps confirm applicants are eligible and plan to follow visa rules.

This policy comes after the U.S. paused student visa interviews in May to overhaul its vetting process. Now, embassies worldwide, including in Costa Rica, are resuming appointments for F, M, and J visas but with stricter guidelines. The embassy advises applicants to check its official website for available slots, as the added screening may slow things down. Some reports suggest consular staff could face delays since reviewing social media takes time, especially with the 446,000 student visas issued in 2023 alone.

For Costa Rican students and exchange participants, this means preparing social media accounts before applying. Many young people keep their profiles private to protect their personal lives, but that’s no longer an option for these visas. The rule has sparked debate, with some worried about privacy and others seeing it as a fair step for U.S. security. A State Department cable, reported by Reuters, instructs officers to flag any “hostile attitudes” toward U.S. culture, government, or principles, though it’s unclear exactly what counts as hostile.

The policy applies globally, affecting students from Spain, India, and beyond but for now, Costa Ricans hoping to study or join exchange programs in the U.S. should review their online presence and stay updated on appointment schedules through the embassy’s website.

This new layer of scrutiny reflects the U.S. government’s focus on tightening visa processes. As the embassy resumes interviews, applicants need to act quickly to comply with the social media rule and secure their spots.

Nicaraguan Exiles Demand Protection After Costa Rica Assassination

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Nicaraguan Exiles Demand Protection After Costa Rica Assassination

More than 70 exiled Nicaraguans demanded international protection on Friday following the shooting death in Costa Rica of retired army officer Roberto Samcam, a prominent critic of the Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo government. Major Roberto Samcam, 66, was gunned down Thursday morning at his home in a suburb of San José by unidentified assailants. Nicaraguan exile activists blame the Managua government for the killing.

“His voice has been brutally silenced, but his example urges us even more strongly to demand respect for life, justice, and international protection for those of us who are persecuted,” said a statement issued by opposition leaders, journalists, and activists living in exile in various countries.

Signatories include writer Gioconda Belli, activist Samantha Jirón (Samcam’s adoptive daughter), former diplomat Arturo McFields, and journalist Carlos Fernando Chamorro, son of former Nicaraguan President Violeta Chamorro (1990–1997), who died Saturday in Costa Rica.

The group recalled the killings of other exiled Nicaraguans, such as peasant leader Jaime Luis Ortega Chavarría, murdered in northern Costa Rica in 2024. “These cases confirm the existence of a transnational persecution strategy that violates international law and endangers the lives of those who defend democracy from exile,” the statement added.

The exiles called on Costa Rican authorities for a “thorough, swift, and transparent investigation” into Samcam’s murder. “This crime must not go unpunished or be treated as an isolated incident. We demand a firm and public response, backed by the international community,” they stated.

Ortega, a 79-year-old former guerrilla who returned to power in 2007 after ruling in the 1980s, is accused by critics and human rights groups of establishing a “family dictatorship” with his wife Murillo, 73, who was officially named co-president in February under a constitutional reform.

His government escalated repression after the 2018 protests—seen by Managua as a U.S.-backed coup attempt—which left more than 300 dead according to the UN. In recent years, the Sandinista government has stripped hundreds of critics and opposition members of their Nicaraguan nationality and expelled them from the country.

Hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguans are now in exile, mainly in Costa Rica, the United States, and Spain.

Costa Rica’s Film Festival Kicks Off with a New Vision

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Costa Rica’s Film Festival Kicks Off with a New Vision

San José is lighting up for the 13th Costa Rica International Film Festival (CRFIC), running June 19–29, 2025, with filmmaker Patricia Velásquez Guzmán taking the reins for the first time. A festival veteran who’s been involved since its early days in the 2010s, Guzmán is shaking things up while keeping the focus on bold, independent cinema.

“I know this festival inside out, so I see where we can do better,” Guzmán said. She’s prioritizing younger audiences without skimping on quality, programming 64 films across 87 screenings in 12 venues. Expect festival hits like Payal Kapadia’s “All We Imagine as Light” and the quirky “Lesbian Space Princess,” alongside strands like Generation Alpha, diving into youth experiences, and Year 13, showcasing genre flicks like “Bitter Gold.”

Regional Reach and Women’s Voices

Guzmán’s big push is making CRFIC a hub for Central America and the Caribbean. “Forming alliances makes us stronger,” she said. The festival’s feature and short film competitions now span the region, featuring Panama’s “Hijo de Tigre y Mula” and Cuba’s “Isla Familia.” Documentaries dominate, with seven of 11 feature entries, including Costa Rican premieres like Álvaro Torres Crespo’s “Ella se detiene a mirar,” tackling fishermen turning to drug trafficking.

Women filmmakers shine this year, with half the films directed by women like Antonella Sudasassi (“Memories of a Burning Body”) and Guzmán herself, whose “The Skin of the Water” debuted at Locarno. A special Women Under the Influence strand highlights female-directed Spanish films. “We’ve got tons of women in the industry, and groups like Unión de Directoras de Cine are pushing for equality,” Guzmán said. “We’re seeing years of work pay off.”

Facing Challenges, Building Connections

Despite tighter budgets, Guzmán’s team keeps the festival lively. “We work hard so audiences don’t feel the pinch,” she said, leaning on partnerships with institutions. The Costa Rica Media Market (June 24–25) adds buzz, connecting 50 buyers and 130 creators to boost regional filmmaking.

CRFIC 2025 tackles big themes—authoritarianism, colonial legacies, and generational shifts—while drawing diverse crowds with music-focused films like “DJ Ahmet” and video art displays. Guzmán’s goal is clear: make the festival a must for cinephiles and newbies alike, proving Costa Rica’s indie film scene is a force.


Panama Vows Constitutional Action Amid Worsening Bocas del Toro Unrest

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Panama Vows Constitutional Action Amid Worsening Bocas del Toro Unrest

Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino announced Thursday that he will take “constitutional measures” to stop the wave of protests and road blockades affecting the Caribbean province of Bocas del Toro for more than a month. The measures—unspecified for now—will be announced after a Cabinet meeting on Friday at 2:00 p.m. local time (19:00 GMT), according to a brief message from the president on his X account.

The protests have resulted in one death, more than 50 arrests, and at least 30 injuries, including several police officers, according to official figures. “We’ve been dealing with this for almost 60 days,” said Deputy Security Minister Luis Felipe Icaza during a press conference earlier in the day, stressing the need to clear the blockades in Bocas del Toro.

Mulino’s announcement follows renewed clashes between protesters and police in the province, where around 1,300 officers have been trying since Saturday to reopen several roads blocked by demonstrators. Protesters have erected barricades at over 40 locations using tree trunks to block traffic and confront police forces.

On Thursday, major incidents occurred in the town of Changuinola, where masked individuals partially set fire to a baseball stadium, authorities confirmed. Additionally, “vandals seized control of the airport facilities,” from which “they stole rental company vehicles and various office items,” police said in a statement.

An office and a warehouse containing fertilizer, manure, and other supplies belonging to the U.S.-based banana company Chiquita Brands were also looted. Police officers have clashed with demonstrators using tear gas, while protesters responded with blunt objects.

“Criminal elements and troublemakers are being allowed into the roadblock areas,” said Deputy Police Director Jorge Domínguez. Since April 28, Mulino’s government has faced violent protests in Bocas del Toro in opposition to a pension reform law that had already been passed following pressure from the banana workers’ union.

Until last week, banana workers led the protests, but after reaching a deal with the government, other groups who also feel impacted by the reform are now demanding the full repeal of the law. Opponents say the reform raises the retirement age and privatizes the pension system, which the government denies. The situation has led to shortages in the region and millions in losses.

El Salvador Extradites Lev Tahor Members to Israel, Guatemala Over Child Abuse Charges

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El Salvador Extradites Lev Tahor Members to Israel, Guatemala Over Child Abuse Charges

El Salvador has extradited two members of the Lev Tahor sect—an ultra-Orthodox Jewish group under investigation for alleged child sexual abuse—to Israel and Guatemala, authorities from both countries reported Thursday. Lev Tahor, which practices an extreme form of ultra-Orthodox Judaism, has been under investigation in Guatemala for months over child abuse allegations. In December 2024, Guatemalan authorities rescued 160 children from a community compound in the country’s southeast.

Israel’s State Attorney’s Office identified the citizen extradited from El Salvador as Eliezer Rumpler, after formally requesting his transfer in February. Salvadoran authorities, who arrested him in January upon his arrival from Guatemala, referred to him as Eluzur Rumpler. Rumpler, who holds both Israeli and U.S. citizenship, is “accused in Israel of mistreating students at educational centers where he served as director,” stated El Salvador’s Prosecutor’s Office, without specifying where the alleged incidents occurred.

Authorities say the students were forced “to undress while being beaten.” “The individual is a member of the Lev Tahor ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect, known for its extreme and harmful practices against its own members,” the Salvadoran institution added. Separately, Guatemala’s Prosecutor’s Office reported that El Salvador also extradited Jonathan Cardona, a Guatemalan national and Lev Tahor member who was arrested in January after entering El Salvador.

Cardona, 23, is “accused of rape, abuse of minors, and human trafficking in the form of forced pregnancy,” Guatemalan Public Ministry spokesman Moisés Ortiz told reporters. Guatemalan police said he was flown to the capital’s airport as part of an Interpol-coordinated operation.

The Lev Tahor sect was founded in the 1980s and established a presence in Guatemala in 2013. It has previously faced legal conflicts in both Mexico and Canada.

Costa Rica’s $35M Mega-Prison Bid Targets Overcrowding Crisis

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Costa Rica’s $35M Mega-Prison Bid Targets Overcrowding Crisis

Costa Rica is taking a bold step to fix its overcrowded prisons with a new high-security facility. The Ministry of Justice and Peace has announced a $35 million bid for construction companies to build the Centro de Alta Contención del Crimen Organizado (CACCO), a mega-prison designed to hold 5,000 high-risk inmates. Drawing inspiration from El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), the project aims to tackle the country’s prison crisis head-on.

The bid, launched this month, invites national and international companies to compete for the contract. The government wants firms with solid experience and financial backing to construct the facility in just 195 days. The price is fixed, meaning no cost overruns will be allowed. CACCO will feature high-security modules to house dangerous offenders, addressing the need for better control over inmates with serious criminal profiles.

Costa Rica’s prison system is in rough shape. Overcrowding is so bad that dozens of inmates are released each month because there’s no space. Staff are stretched thin, and outdated technology makes it hard to manage high-risk prisoners. The government says CACCO will modernize the system, providing a safer way to isolate gang leaders and other major offenders. The facility is expected to span thousands of square meters, with a design focused on security, though exact details are still under wraps.

The idea for CACCO came after Justice Minister Gerald Campos visited El Salvador’s CECOT in April. That mega-prison, built under President Nayib Bukele, holds up to 40,000 inmates and is known for its tough approach to gang members. Campos praised CECOT’s efficiency and secured El Salvador’s help to cut CACCO’s cost from $60 million to $35 million. But not everyone’s on board—some critics, as seen in posts on X, worry about adopting a model tied to human rights concerns.

This project marks a shift for Costa Rica, which has long leaned on rehabilitation over harsh punishment. Supporters say it’s necessary to curb rising organized crime, while others fear it could clash with the country’s human rights traditions.

Costa Rica’s Taiwan Ties Stir “One China” Policy Tensions

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Costa Rica’s Taiwan Ties Stir “One China” Policy Tensions

Costa Rica is caught in a diplomatic tug-of-war with China after sending officials to Taiwan for training. The government confirmed that five members of the Directorate of Intelligence and National Security (DIS) spent 23 days in Taipei in May 2025, learning about national security. Taiwan picked up the tab for everything—flights, hotels, meals, and transport—according to La Nación.

China’s embassy in San José fired back, calling the trip a violation of the “one China” principle. That’s the deal Costa Rica signed onto in 2007 when it cut ties with Taiwan to recognize Beijing instead. “We oppose any official contact between Costa Rica and Taiwan,” the embassy said in a statement, urging respect for the agreement that sees Taiwan as part of China. The 2007 switch came with big promises from China, including $130 million in aid and $300 million in bond purchases, but recent moves suggest Costa Rica is testing the waters with Taiwan again.

It’s not just the DIS trip. The Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promoter (PROCOMER) sent a team to Taiwan to drum up investment in the semiconductor industry, as confirmed by Trade Minister Manuel Tovar. These actions have raised eyebrows in Beijing, especially since Costa Rica banned Chinese tech giant Huawei from its 5G network in 2023, citing security concerns. That decision already put a dent in relations with China, and the Taiwan visits aren’t helping.

The timing is tricky. China’s been flexing its muscles globally, pressuring countries to avoid Taiwan. Since Costa Rica’s 2007 shift, other Latin American nations like Panama and Honduras have followed suit, leaving Taiwan with just a handful of diplomatic allies. Costa Rica’s recent moves could signal a shift toward closer ties with the U.S., which backs Taiwan unofficially and has clashed with China over tech and trade.

At home, the issue is starting a debate. Some Costa Rican lawmakers argue the country should prioritize economic ties with China, its second-largest trading partner. Others see value in engaging Taiwan, especially for tech and security cooperation. For now, Costa Rica is walking a tightrope, balancing economic needs with geopolitical pressures. As China watches closely, our government will need to tread carefully to avoid further straining a key relationship.

Nicaraguan Critic Roberto Samcam Assassinated in Costa Rica

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Nicaraguan Critic Roberto Samcam Assassinated in Costa Rica

A retired Nicaraguan army officer and outspoken critic of the Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo government was shot dead Thursday in Costa Rica, where he was living in exile. Major Roberto Samcam, 66, was gunned down by unknown assailants Thursday morning in the condominium where he lived in a suburb of San José. Nicaraguan exile activists hold the Ortega-Murillo regime responsible for the killing.

“This news hit me hard, we never expected this,” said his daughter Samantha Jirón, who lives in Madrid. “Roberto was a powerful voice,” said his wife, Claudia Vargas, through tears. She said he “never did anything wrong” and worked to expose “human rights violations in Nicaragua and denounce what was happening in the country.”

Costa Rica’s Red Cross dispatched an advanced life support unit to Samcam’s residence in Moravia but confirmed he showed no vital signs. The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) later identified him and confirmed his identity. “We strongly condemn the cold-blooded murder of Roberto Samcam. This is a cowardly act of criminal political revenge by Nicaragua’s dictatorship,” wrote exiled former Nicaraguan ambassador Arturo McFields on X.

Samcam, who regularly spoke to the media to criticize the Ortega regime, had been living in Costa Rica with his wife since 2018, when protests in Nicaragua were brutally repressed, leaving over 300 dead, according to the UN. According to Confidencial, the killers entered his residence under the pretense of delivering a package, shot him eight times, and fled on a motorcycle.

Night of the Long Knives

On January 10, 2024, another Nicaraguan exile in Costa Rica, Joao Maldonado, was shot while in a car with his girlfriend in San José. Both were seriously injured. Former Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solís (2014–2018) called the assassination “an outrageous and serious act” due to Samcam’s opposition to Ortega and Murillo.

Ex-sandinista commander Dora María Téllez, now exiled in Spain, warned this could signal the beginning of a “night of long knives”—a reference to Hitler’s 1934 purge—executed in slow motion by a weakening regime. “They’re resorting to executing a retired military officer whose voice they believe still carries weight within the army,” Téllez told 100% Noticias.

The U.S. State Department expressed its shock and offered Costa Rica support “to hold the murderers and those behind them accountable.” Ortega, a 79-year-old former guerrilla, ruled Nicaragua from 1985–1990 and again since 2007. Critics and international organizations accuse him of being an autocrat who has dismantled freedoms and democratic institutions.

A constitutional reform enacted in February formally made Murillo co-president, cementing the couple’s total control. Following the 2018 protests—labeled by the regime as a U.S.-backed coup attempt—hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguans were forced into exile. The government expelled and stripped citizenship from some 450 critics, including clergy, journalists, writers, and politicians, many of whom were jailed for “treason.”

Six Arrested in Costa Rica for Hiding Drugs in Boats, Surfboards

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Six Arrested in Costa Rica for Hiding Drugs in Boats, Surfboards

A Costa Rican criminal group was taken down this week after smuggling 32 kilograms of cocaine into Australia, hidden inside roll-up inflatable boats. The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ), led by the Deputy Prosecutor’s Office for Drug Trafficking, arrested six suspects during early morning raids on Wednesday. The operations spanned Mata Redonda in San José, Pozos de Santa Ana, Concepción de La Unión, Pérez Zeledón, and Barva.

The group’s activities came to light after Australian Federal Police seized the cocaine shipment in June 2023. Another raid in August 2024 by the OIJ uncovered 24 kilograms of the drug stashed in forklift batteries meant for the United States. Investigators say the organization also used surfboards and even sculptures in past schemes, showing their knack for hiding drugs in unconventional items.

Michael Soto, deputy director of the Judicial Police, explained the stakes: “A kilo of cocaine sells for about $7,000 here, but in Australia, it’s worth $300,000. That 32-kilo seizure in Australia was valued at $9.6 million.” The high profits drove the group to build a tight operation, using their experience and international contacts to move drugs across borders.

Authorities are still hunting for the group’s leader, who allegedly has ties to earlier drug trafficking cases. “This person has expertise in concealing drugs in all sorts of merchandise,” said Deputy Prosecutor Mauricio Boraschi. The organization recruited people with clean records to handle exports, making their activities harder to trace. They operated out of a warehouse in Heredia, where drugs were packed into wooden crates and handed to customs agencies for shipping.

Soto pointed to a bigger issue: “Cocaine production is booming in South America, and Costa Rica has become a hub for drug trafficking. Groups like this use their know-how to cash in, exploiting our ports and logistics networks.” The OIJ’s Narcotics Section worked closely with international agencies to track the group’s movements, leading to the coordinated raids.

The six suspects are now in the hands of the Public Ministry, which will question them and decide their legal fate. As Costa Rica deals with its growing role in global drug networks, this bust shows the OIJ’s determination to crack down on sophisticated trafficking operations. But with the ringleader still at large, the fight is far from over.

Costa Rica Rolls Out Medical Cannabis Sales with Strict Rules

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Costa Rica Rolls Out Medical Cannabis Sales with Strict Rules

After years of waiting, medical cannabis is now available in Costa Rica. However, access remains tightly regulated. Its sale is restricted exclusively to pharmacies, and a doctor’s prescription is required, according to the newly enacted regulation. This means access to these products will be more limited than some businesses and patients had anticipated.

Experts from the Costa Rican Association of Pharmacists emphasized that these requirements are necessary to ensure a model that guarantees safe, professional, and controlled use. Patients with conditions such as cancer, fibromyalgia, epilepsy, and other chronic illnesses can now seek complementary treatment options through medical cannabis, “The approval of this regulation represents an opportunity to offer complementary therapies to patients who require them, as long as the established criteria are respected.

It is not a first-line therapy, but a complement that must be managed with the same rigor we apply to any other medication,” said Andrés Guzmán, board member of the Costa Rican Association of Pharmacists. To guarantee strict control in dispensing and administration, the association insisted that medical cannabis must only be accessed through a valid medical prescription, similar to other psychotropic drugs. Pharmacies will use Costa Rica’s digital prescription system to verify authenticity and prevent abuse or overdose.

The government’s decision has drawn criticism from the private sector, which argues that the model favors limited competition. Roy Thompson, CEO of MasVerde, said the regulation effectively creates an “oligopoly” by granting pharmacies exclusive rights to sell the product.

“The current design does not promote the industry. As the law stands, an oligopoly is granted to pharmacies. We will see if they really make the investment and reach the number of people they expect,” he said. Thompson is even considering taking the issue to the Constitutional Chamber to challenge the restriction.

Globally, the medical cannabis industry was valued at $6.8 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach $53.9 billion by 2030. With proven therapeutic properties for a range of conditions, medical cannabis continues to gain widespread acceptance.

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