As Reuters reported, Panama has launched its first U.S.-funded migrant repatriation flight, deporting 29 Colombian citizens from Panama City to Medellin on August 20. This development is part of a new agreement between the Panamanian and U.S. governments aimed at curbing the rise in illegal migration through the dangerous Darién Gap, a jungle region between Panama and Colombia.
According to CNN, the first flight was carrying migrants with criminal records, as confirmed by Panama’s Deputy Security Minister Luis Felipe Icaza. Among those deported was a suspected member of the Clan del Golfo, a notorious Colombian criminal organization. The migrants were escorted by Panamanian authorities and brought on board in handcuffs.
The deportation flights appear to be part of a broader strategy by the Panamanian government of President José Raúl Mulino to combat illegal migration. Mulino, who took office in early July, has made tackling the migration crisis one of his top priorities as the region continues to grapple with the challenges posed by large-scale migration movements.
Panama’s actions follow a memorandum of cooperation signed with the United States on July 1 aimed at reducing the number of migrants crossing Panama en route to the United States. The Darién Gap, known for its treacherous terrain and harsh conditions, has become a key corridor for migrants; over half a million people attempted the journey last year alone.
In recent months, Panama has taken additional measures to prevent migrants from using this route, including blocking several key trails in the Darién jungle with barbed wire. US Department of Homeland Security official Marlen Piñeiro reiterated the dangers of this journey and urged migrants to avoid the Darién route during a press conference on Tuesday, according to CNN.
The head of Panama’s migration agency, Roger Mojica, stressed that while current flights are focused on Colombia, efforts are also being made to coordinate repatriation flights to other countries, including Ecuador and India. He noted, however, that given the ongoing economic and political crises in Venezuela, no flights are currently planned.
With additional flights, including one scheduled for August 23, Panama is signaling its commitment to curbing unauthorized migration through the Darién Gap. This initiative underscores ongoing regional efforts to control migration routes as countries across the Americas seek to address the causes and consequences of the refugee crisis, which is critical to near-term peace. However, overall peace and stability in the region depend on addressing the root causes of migration, including economic inequalities, violence and political instability in migrants’ home countries.
