This development comes as Panama steps up to serve as a temporary stopover for migrants being expelled, as announced by the nation's president on Thursday.
In a press briefing, President José Raúl Mulino stated, “Yesterday a flight from the United States Air Force arrived with 119 people from diverse nationalities of the world.” According to The New York Post, the passengers hailed from countries including China, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
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This flight is the first of three planned, with a total of approximately 360 individuals expected. Mulino emphasized, “It’s not something massive,” underscoring the limited scale of the operation.
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The migrants are slated to be transferred to a shelter in Panama's Darien region before being repatriated to their respective countries. Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Ruiz Hernández explained that Panama's role as a stopover was at the behest of the U.S. government, which is also financing the repatriations through United Nations immigration agencies. Ruiz clarified that the individuals, detained after crossing the U.S. border, did not possess criminal records.
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The recent visit of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Panama saw discussions centered around President Donald Trump's aspirations to regain control of the Panama Canal. However, Mulino also highlighted Panama's initiatives to curb migration through the Darien Gap and offered the country as a conduit for returning U.S. deportees to their homelands.
Rubio's trip also resulted in agreements with Guatemala and El Salvador to accept migrants from other nations, a strategic move to bolster U.S. deportation capabilities.
Migration through the Darien Gap, a critical passage between Panama and Colombia, has seen a significant decline, dropping by about 90% in January compared to the previous year. Since Mulino assumed office, Panama has conducted numerous deportation flights, predominantly funded by the U.S. government.
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Ruiz affirmed Panama's commitment, stating that the nation “has been completely willing to participate and cooperate in this request they have made of us.” This collaboration underscores Panama's strategic role in the broader U.S. immigration policy framework, reflecting a shared interest in managing migration effectively.
