By Panama’s government plans to initiate deportation flights for migrants who have crossed the treacherous Darien jungle within the next two to three months, according to Roger Mojica, the country’s chief of migration. This development comes as part of a recent agreement between Panama and the United States, with the U.S. set to fund these deportation efforts.
Mojica revealed during a conference call on Friday that preparations are underway to establish the necessary infrastructure for the deportation program. “We are establishing the needs, equipment and requirements that Panama has to face in order to start the program, and we are in conversations with the United States,” he stated.
The initiative aligns with the agenda of Panama’s new president, Jose Raul Mulino, who has pledged to curb unlawful immigration. Mulino’s administration has begun working closely with the U.S. to control passage through the Darien Gap, a dangerous jungle region connecting Central America to Colombia.
The Darien Gap has seen a surge in migrant crossings, with a record half a million people traversing the jungle in 2023. So far in 2024, Panamanian authorities estimate that 213,702 migrants, including many children, have made the perilous journey.
This move comes amid heightened focus on immigration issues in the United States, a primary destination for many of these migrants. The topic has gained particular traction in the lead-up to U.S. elections, with Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump advocating for stronger border controls and mass deportations.
Credit: Reuters
