Costa Rica’s New Megaprison Strategy: Strong State Action Against Violent Crime or Dangerous Overreach?

In a bold move echoing El Salvador’s hardline tactics against organized crime, Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves and his Salvadoran counterpart Nayib Bukele laid the cornerstone for a new megaprison designed exclusively to detain the country’s most violent offenders. While this initiative positions itself as a robust defense of public safety and sovereignty, it also exposes critical fault lines in governance, legal frameworks, and respect for individual rights—elements central to America First values. Is Force Alone Enough Against Organized Crime? Bukele didn’t mince words: "The only way to solve an existing problem is with force—the force of the State." His...