Panama Launches US-Backed Deportation Flights Aimed at Discouraging Migrants

• The first flight of deported migrants left Panama early on Tuesday, August 20, as part of a new strategy to reduce the mostly U.S.-bound flow of people that crosses the treacherous jungle connecting Central and South America.
• Financed by Washington, the first flight took off from Panama City carrying 29 Colombians, all with criminal records in their home country and apprehended after crossing the Darien Gap jungle connecting Colombia with Panama. The deportees were led to the plane shackled and handcuffed.
• The deportation flights will increase in frequency. They form part of a July deal between U.S. officials and Panama's new President Jose Mulino, who campaigned on a pledge to end his country's status as a transit point.
• Panama's migration head Roger Mojica told a press conference that efforts to deport migrants from nations besides Colombia are ongoing, including Ecuador and India. But he noted that deporting Venezuelans will be more complicated given Panama's suspension of diplomatic relations with Venezuela after its disputed presidential election last month.
• Marlen Piñeiro, an official with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said the goal of the deportation flights is simple. "The message we're sending is very clear: Darien is no longer a route," she said, stressing that migrants must opt for only legal options to enter the United States. U.S. officials have previously disclosed a $6Mn budget for the flights and are training Panamanians. They said the repatriations are implemented per Panama's laws.

(Sources: Reuters)