In the coming days, weeks at the latest,” Panama could begin the air deportation of Venezuelans who cross the Darién jungle, the natural border with Colombia, to third countries, as part of the agreement between the Panamanian Government and the United States signed last year. July 1, the US regional internal security attaché, Marlen Piñeiro, assured EFE this Wednesday.
“Yes, we have approached several countries and we think that in the coming days, weeks at the latest, we will have ways to return Venezuelans to third countries where they will be safe,” Piñeiro, who until now has represented US authorities during deportation flights carried out by Panama since last August.
Asked if she could reveal which countries they are holding talks with, she said “not yet”: “But we have spoken with several,” she acknowledged.
The agreement, signed on the first day of the new Administration of President José Raúl Mulino, contemplates the repatriation by air and based on Panamanian laws of irregular migrants who have arrived in Panama after crossing the border jungle.
The United States finances the flights with an initial amount of 6 million dollars, of which more than 1.1 million dollars have already been used in 20 flights, the last one this morning, to countries such as Colombia, Ecuador and India , and which affected about 800 migrants.
Venezuelans continue to lead among the nationalities that migrate the most through the Darién
Since the flights began, there has been a drastic reduction in the number of Colombians and Ecuadorians crossing the Darién, of 65% and 92%, respectively, according to what the US authorities announced in a statement.
But the vast majority of migrants who cross the jungle, Venezuelans by the way, could not be deported given the suspension, since the end of July, of diplomatic relations between Panama and Venezuela as a result of the crisis unleashed after the elections.
The data from the Panamanian authorities is resounding: of the more than 263 thousand migrants who crossed the Darién until the end of September, the last month with complete figures, 67% were Venezuelans, while in 2023, when the historical record of people who had crossed this jungle, with more than 520 thousand, 63% also came from Venezuela.
General drop in the number of migrants through Darién
But although there are no deportation flights for Venezuelans, the data also indicates a general drop in the number of migrants, with 274,444 irregular travelers who had arrived in Panama until October 13, 36.5% less than the 432 thousand 211 registered in the same period of 2023.
“We think it is due to the good work that this administration has done in Panama. We also think it has to do with the proclamation that (American President Joe) Biden made at our own border in June. Those two things (had their reason). , which was for people to think twice (before) coming through the irregular route,” the official stressed.
Piñeiro also confirmed that although at first there had been talk of the voluntary nature of the deportations, “so far all the deportations that have occurred have resulted in involuntary expulsions, consistent with Panamanian law.”
Family separations
In addition, there have been complaints from migrants, as verified by EFE at the Lajas Blancas immigration reception center in Darién, that family separations have occurred by the immigration authorities of Panama, in particular cases in which the Colombian husband was deported. , while the Venezuelan mother was allowed to continue her journey to North America.
The regional internal security attaché assured that she had “no evidence of that.”
“If there is any allegation about that we would explore it. However, I always repeat that if Panamanian law decides that someone should be deported, for example they may have had some criminal (history), they are eligible to be deported under the law. Panamanian,” he said.
However, he noted that the majority of migrants who enter through Darién and end up deported have no criminal record, but rather are deported for having entered Panama irregularly.
Increase in destination countries
The US authorities detailed that in addition to the charter flights already made to Colombia, Ecuador and India, four irregular migrants were returned on commercial flights to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia and Turkey, but Piñeiro stated that they hope to expand the nationalities.
“I can confirm that we are talking to all the countries where migrants are entering. To clarify, Panama is talking to the countries where migrants are entering to return them under Panamanian law,” he noted.
According to the data until October revealed by the Panamanian authorities, the main countries of origin of the migrants who cross the Darién are, in this order, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, China, Haiti, India, Peru, Vietnam and Bangladesh.
Piñeiro, although born in the United States, is the daughter of Cubans with ancestors of Spanish origin, which is why she says she is sensitive to migration, a sector in which she has also worked for the last 37 years.
For this reason, he emphasizes, he asks migrants to opt for “legal routes” of migration, because sometimes “people think that they do not qualify, but yes, there are work routes, there are family routes”, while with the irregular option put in danger.
“There is a lot of risk in Darién, not only of violence, of money, of exploitation, the scars that are caused to children are scars that remain for life, it is not worth it,” he said.
Carabobo / The Carabobeño
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Interview with Marlen Piñeiro, U.S. Regional Internal Security Attaché
Editor: Thank you for joining us, Marlen. There have been significant developments regarding the air deportation of Venezuelan migrants from Panama. Can you tell us more about the recent agreement between Panama and the United States?
Marlen Piñeiro: Thank you for having me. Yes, we are on the cusp of initiating air deportations for Venezuelan migrants who cross the Darién jungle into Panama. This is part of an agreement signed last year between the U.S. and the Panamanian government, which allows for the repatriation of irregular migrants according to Panamanian laws.
Editor: What are the logistics of these deportations? Could you share how many flights are planned and where these migrants might be sent?
Marlen Piñeiro: At this point, we are in discussions with several countries regarding these deportations. We expect to finalize those arrangements very soon, within days or weeks. Since starting the flights in August, we’ve already conducted 20 flights, affecting around 800 migrants, and the U.S. has committed over $6 million to finance them.
Editor: We’ve seen that Venezuelans make up a significant portion of those crossing through the Darién. Could you give us some statistics on that?
Marlen Piñeiro: Indeed. As of September, Venezuelans represented about 67% of over 263,000 migrants who traversed the Darién. This trend has continued into 2023, with approximately 63% of the record 520,000 crossings being Venezuelans. This underscores the ongoing crisis affecting Venezuela and the dire situations many migrants are fleeing.
Editor: There have been reports of family separations during the deportation process. How does your administration respond to those concerns?
Marlen Piñeiro: We take those allegations seriously. However, currently, we have no evidence to support claims of family separations based on nationality. If there are specific cases brought to our attention, we will investigate them. But I emphasize that deportations should adhere strictly to Panamanian law, and most migrants deported so far do not have a criminal record; their deportation is primarily due to irregular entry.
Editor: Have you observed any changes in migration trends since the initiation of these flights and policies?
Marlen Piñeiro: Yes, there has been a noticeable decline in migrant crossings through the Darién—by about 36.5% compared to last year. We believe this could be attributed to the effective measures implemented by the Panamanian government and the messaging from U.S. officials encouraging people to reconsider using irregular routes.
Editor: what message would you like to convey to those thinking about making the dangerous journey through the Darién?
Marlen Piñeiro: I want to stress that the journey is fraught with risk and that there are legal pathways available to seek asylum and migration. We urge individuals to explore these options rather than risking their lives and crossing through such perilous terrains.
Editor: Thank you for your insights, Marlen. It’s clear that this situation is complex and evolving.
Marlen Piñeiro: Thank you for having me. It’s important to continue this dialogue as we navigate these challenges.
Ictly to Panamanian law, prioritizing safety and legality throughout the process.
Editor: In light of the ongoing migrant crisis, what message would you like to convey to those considering making the dangerous journey through the Darién jungle?
Marlen Piñeiro: My message is clear: I encourage migrants to seek legal pathways for migration. Many individuals believe they do not qualify for such options, but there are indeed family reunification and work-related opportunities available. The journey through the Darién is fraught with danger—violence, exploitation, and the potential for long-term trauma, especially for children. It’s not worth risking your life when there are safer alternatives.
Editor: Thank you for your insights, Marlen. We appreciate the information on this critical humanitarian issue and the ongoing efforts to manage migration safely and legally.
Marlen Piñeiro: Thank you for having me. It’s vital we continue to discuss these matters openly and seek solutions that prioritize the wellbeing of migrants.
