Summary

Costa Rican President Laura Fernández, inaugurated on May 8, 2026, has unveiled a comprehensive security reform agenda modeled on the policies of El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele. Fernández’s plan centers on constructing a high-security “megacárcel” prison, introducing targeted states of exception in crime hotspots, and enacting judicial reforms to expedite criminal proceedings and increase accountability. The megacárcel, designed for approximately 5,000 inmates and budgeted at $35 million, is scheduled for completion within 195 days and aims to isolate high-risk offenders and disrupt criminal networks. These measures respond to a sharp rise in violent crime, with Costa Rica’s homicide rate reaching 17.2 per 100,000 in 2023 and the number of criminal organizations surging. Fernández’s administration seeks to replicate El Salvador’s documented results, including a dramatic reduction in homicide rates and significant economic and tourism gains, by adapting Bukele’s approach to Costa Rica’s context. The reforms have broad legislative support but require coalition-building for constitutional changes.

  

Detailed Report

1. Fernández’s Political Background and Mandate

Laura Fernández was sworn in as Costa Rica’s president on May 8, 2026, following a decisive electoral victory. A political scientist and former cabinet minister, Fernández is closely aligned with her predecessor Rodrigo Chaves and the governing Sovereign People’s Party. Her administration is widely viewed as a continuation of Chaves-era policies, with Chaves himself retaining significant influence as minister of the presidency and finance. Fernández’s administration holds 31 of 57 seats in the National Assembly, providing a strong platform for advancing her security agenda. Fernández’s rise comes amid growing public concern over crime and dissatisfaction with traditional political parties.

 

2. Bukele’s Security Reforms in El Salvador: Results and Key Features

El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele declared a state of exception in March 2022, enabling mass detentions and the suspension of certain constitutional guarantees. The country’s homicide rate fell from 38 per 100,000 in 2019 to 1.9 per 100,000 in 2024, with preliminary 2025 figures at 1.3 per 100,000. The CECOT mega-prison, opened in January 2023, spans 57 acres with a capacity for 40,000 inmates and housed approximately 14,500 by August 2024. Over 91,990 suspected gang members were arrested by April 2026, resulting in the world’s highest incarceration rate. Gang activity and extortion complaints dropped sharply, and community spaces were reclaimed. Economic and tourism indicators improved markedly, with international arrivals reaching 4.1 million in 2025 and tourism revenues rising to $3.6 billion. El Salvador was recognized as the fastest-growing tourism destination in the Americas, and foreign investment increased as public safety improved.

 

3. Fernández’s Megacárcel Proposal

Costa Rica’s proposed megacárcel is explicitly modeled after El Salvador’s CECOT, with technical collaboration from Salvadoran authorities. The facility is designed for approximately 5,000–5,100 inmates, increasing national prison capacity by 40%. Construction is scheduled for completion within 195 days, targeting a June 2026 opening, and is budgeted at $35 million. The prison aims to isolate high-risk offenders, sever operational links to criminal networks, disrupt gang command structures, and relieve overcrowding. President Fernández has described the megacárcel as a “cornerstone” of her administration’s campaign against organized crime.

 

4. Costa Rica’s Crime Landscape

Costa Rica has experienced a significant escalation in violent crime, recording 907 homicides in 2023 (17.2 per 100,000)—more than double the rate from a few years earlier. By December 2025, over 3,000 homicides had occurred under the previous administration, with two-thirds attributed to gang feuds and organized crime. The number of criminal organizations expanded from 35 to 340, and major international cartels established operations in the country. Costa Rica’s role as a drug transit hub intensified, and the incarceration rate rose from 282 per 100,000 in 2022 to 359 per 100,000 in 2025. Public concern is high, with 71% of Costa Ricans reporting worsening security in late 2025.

 

5. States of Exception Proposals

President Fernández has pledged to implement states of exception in areas most affected by organized crime. These targeted, time-limited measures would temporarily suspend certain legal protections, allowing for mass arrests, curfews, and movement restrictions in high-violence neighbourhoods or regions. The objective is to rapidly disrupt criminal networks, restore public order, and reduce homicide rates. Constitutional-level measures require a qualified majority of 38 seats in the National Assembly; with PPSO holding 31 seats, coalition-building is necessary for full implementation.

 

6. Judicial Reforms and Law Enforcement Expansion

The administration’s judicial reform package includes expedited trials, streamlined criminal case processing, and the possible creation of specialized courts for high-impact crimes. Proposals also call for term limits for judges, accountability mechanisms for judicial officials, harsher penalties for gang membership, increased protections for witnesses and victims, stricter gun laws, and tougher penalties for youth gang involvement. Plans include hiring 6,000 new police officers and inaugurating a modern police surveillance center. Border security measures feature expanded cargo scanners, advanced electronic seals, operations against clandestine airstrips, Coast Guard expansion, and enhanced cooperation with international law enforcement agencies.

 

7. Regional Context: The Spread of the Bukele Model

Costa Rica’s adoption of Bukele-style reforms reflects a broader regional trend, with leaders in Ecuador, Honduras, Argentina, and Brazil expressing admiration for El Salvador’s approach. Former President Rodrigo Chaves, now serving as minister of the presidency and finance, has also supported these measures. The reforms are driven by public demand for security and the documented results achieved in El Salvador.

 

Conclusion

President Laura Fernández’s security reform agenda marks a significant shift in Costa Rica’s approach to combating organized crime. Anchored by the construction of a megacárcel, targeted states of exception, judicial reforms, and enhanced border security, the administration aims to replicate El Salvador’s documented reductions in violent crime and improvements in public safety. Legislative dynamics will shape the pace and scope of implementation, but the government’s stated goal is to deliver rapid, measurable security gains.