Panama will deport more than 100 migrants from China, India, Ecuador, and Colombia as part of a broader effort to address the rising number of individuals traveling north through Central America, CNN reports.
President Jose Mulino detailed the deportation flights, which align with Panama’s partnership with the United States aimed at curbing irregular migration.
According to Mulino, the first repatriation flight is scheduled to send 70 individuals back to India on September 3. He also mentioned that a number of Chinese migrants would be deported, though specific details were not provided. Additionally, flights carrying Ecuadorians and Colombians will take place in the coming days. Notably, the Ecuadorian migrant population has become significant, representing the second-largest group of migrants in the region, following Venezuelans.
Earlier this week, 29 Colombians were already deported under the same program.
The increase in deportations comes amid a rising number of migrants crossing into Panama from the Darién Gap, a notoriously perilous rainforest route linking South and Central America. The Biden administration has been taking steps to discourage migration toward the U.S. southern border by establishing processing centers in Latin America and urging neighboring countries to enhance their border enforcement.
This year alone, Panama has seen over 230,000 migrants enter through the Darién, marking a 30% increase in crossings compared to the same timeframe in 2023, according to Roger Mojica, head of Panama’s migration agency. As the crackdown continues, the government aims to manage the influx and maintain control over its borders effectively.
