US Deports 119 Immigrants of Various Nationalities to Panama
People from Afghanistan, Iran, China, and Other Nations Flown Out Amid Intensified Deportation Efforts
In a significant escalation of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement, the United States has deported 119 undocumented immigrants from several Asian nations to Panama. The move comes as part of a broader strategy to remove individuals whose home governments have refused to accept their return.
A military aircraft transported the group, which included individuals from Afghanistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, China, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and Pakistan, from California to Panama City on Wednesday. This flight is reportedly the first of three planned deportation flights to Panama.
The decision to send immigrants to Panama underscores the increasing pressures surrounding U.S. immigration policy. The arrangement follows threats by former President Donald Trump regarding the Panama Canal, which was transferred to Panamanian control in 1999 under a treaty agreement with the United States.
The acceptance of these migrants by Panama appears to be the result of recent diplomatic engagements, including a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino confirmed the arrival, stating that the country had received "119 people from various nationalities."
Upon arrival, the immigrants were temporarily housed in a local hotel before being moved to a shelter near the Darién Gap, a dense jungle region in southern Panama. Their relocation is being managed by the International Organization for Migration.
“We aim to facilitate their departure as soon as possible,” Mulino stated. “This is yet another contribution Panama is making to address migration challenges.”
The Panamanian government has indicated that these migrants will eventually be repatriated to their respective countries on U.S.-funded flights. This development aligns Panama with other Central American nations, such as El Salvador and Guatemala, which have agreed to similar migrant reception arrangements with the U.S.
CBS News reported that a second flight, carrying additional deportees from Asia and Africa, was scheduled to depart for Panama on Thursday. According to internal U.S. government documents, this group includes individuals from Cameroon.
The Darién Gap has become a key migration route for individuals traveling through Central America towards the U.S. In 2023, over half a million migrants—primarily from Venezuela—traversed the Darién jungle into Panama, though this figure dropped to approximately 300,000 in the past year.
This latest development highlights the ongoing complexities of global migration, as countries grapple with shifting policies and international diplomatic agreements.
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