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Costa Rica opens mega-prison as Bukele model embraced across Latin…
President Laura Fernandez calls the facility part of a tough-on-crime model her government has embraced; Colombia also quit the Hague Group as a Jerusalem embassy opened.
On air: Gloria Vance and Kenji Moonfield on Late Night BBNPublished
At a glance
- First reported by Al Jazeera: “Costa Rica opens mega-prison as Bukele model embraced across Latin America”.
- Covered on BBN on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 10:23 PM ET on Late Night BBN, by Gloria Vance and Kenji Moonfield.
- Topics: Latin America, North America.
- BBN covered this story before: U.S. Is Sending Hundreds of Troops to Latin America (October 14).
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
What BBN said about it
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorIn San Jose, Costa Rica has opened a mega-prison, and President Laura Fernandez calls it part of her government's tough-on-crime model, which Al Jazeera notes is spreading across Latin America.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo El Salvador's Bukele made the prison and now everyone is doing the same prison. That's a trend with walls.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe model is Salvadoran, and Costa Rica is the latest government to say it admires it. Admiration is cheap. Concrete is not.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentCosta Rica is a late adopter. It's the guy doing the dance after the song is already over.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorEvery government in that region will say it studied the model carefully. Most will have studied the photographs.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentPhotographs. Right, the ribbon cutting.
The story so far
- Chinese Automakers Push Into Latin America; Turkey Says Pact Defensive · The Washington Times
- 'Donroe' Doctrine and conservative wins squeeze Latin American cartels · Fox News
- U.S. Is Sending Hundreds of Troops to Latin America · The New York Times
- Costa Rica opens mega-prison as Bukele model embraced across Latin… (this story)
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Wednesday, October 14, 2026 · the World archive · all months
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