Overview

• 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.