The Panamanian government projects that migrant repatriation flights could begin no later than October.
This was announced recently by the country’s director of migration, Roger Mojica, after reaching an agreement with the United States.
Panama’s newly elected president, José Raúl Mulino, who took office in early July, has pledged to implement strong measures against irregular migration.
Mulino announced an agreement with the United States, in which Washington will be responsible for the costs of deporting migrants who cross the Central American nation illegally.
“We are in talks with them (the United States). We estimate (…) that in two or three months we could begin this process,” Mojica said, as quoted by Reutersin response to the query about the start date of flights.
Half a million migrants crossed the dangerous Darien jungle in 2023
Last year, more than half a million migrants crossed the dangerous Darien jungle, which separates Panama from Colombia, in search of safety and better economic opportunities, mainly in the United States.
In the world’s largest economy, the issue of immigration has gained prominence in the context of the upcoming presidential elections in November. Republican candidate and former president Donald Trump has promised to reinforce borders and carry out mass deportations.
Irregular migrants in Panama 2024
Recently, the National Migration Service (SNM) of Panama has counted a total of 216,005 irregular migrants, from the beginning of 2024 to date.
The SNM Director General stressed that the Global Compact for Migration establishes respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each country. This document also calls on the international community to jointly and in a coordinated manner address the challenge of migration.
As a Panamanian State, he assured, we are working in an inter-institutional manner and will adopt the necessary measures to reduce irregular migration.
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