Canada Global (Web News) U.S. deported 119 people of various nationalities to Panama under an agreement between the Trump administration and the Central American nation, Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino announced Thursday.
The first deportation flight, carrying individuals from Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam, arrived Wednesday, with two more flights expected soon, bringing the total to 360 deportees. Before being repatriated, they will be housed in a shelter near the Darién Gap, a major migrant route.
Mulino confirmed the agreement during a press conference, highlighting U.S.-Panama cooperation. He also noted that discussions are underway to expand a July memorandum with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to facilitate the return of Venezuelans, Colombians, and Ecuadorians from the Darién Gap at U.S. expense.
Panama’s Deputy Security Minister Luis Icaza reported that migrant crossings through the Darién Gap dropped by 90% in January compared to the previous year, attributing the decline to bilateral efforts. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has not yet commented.
