U.S. Begins Deporting Migrants from Asia and Africa to Panama

The Trump administration's agreement with Panama facilitates deportation of migrants from nations unwilling to accept returnees, with plans for further repatriation flights.

• The U.S. deported 119 migrants from countries including Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, and Cameroon to Panama on the first of three planned flights.
• Panama has agreed to act as a transit hub for migrants from nations that refuse to accept deportees directly, under a deal reached after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit.
• The deported migrants will be housed in shelters near Panama's Darién Gap before being repatriated to their home countries, with costs covered by the U.S. through international agencies.
• Migration through the Darién Gap has significantly decreased, with a 90% reduction in January 2025 compared to the same month in 2024, attributed to bilateral efforts.
• Panama's President José Raúl Mulino emphasized that the arrangement does not involve ceding sovereignty over the Panama Canal, despite related discussions during Rubio's visit.

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