Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino confirmed that the Trump administration has deported 119 immigrants residing in the United States, originating from various Asian countries, and sent them to Panama.
According to the French news agency AFP, President Mulino stated that a US military aircraft transported these individuals to Panama. The plane landed at Howard Air Base, west of Panama City, and the immigrants were subsequently taken to hotels. From there, they will be moved to a shelter in Darién before being flown back to their home countries via jungle airstrips.
Diverse Nationalities Among Deported, Including Pakistanis and Afghans
President Mulino revealed that the deported individuals include citizens from Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. He also indicated that more flights from the US are expected soon, with a total of 360 individuals planned to be sent to Panama in three flights.
Mulino, who had previously offered temporary shelter to immigrants deported from the US, noted that the plane carried people of highly diverse nationalities, many of whom were from Asia.
Panama’s Role in US Immigration Crackdown
The US is home to approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants, many of whom are from Latin American countries. In their quest for a better life, numerous immigrants undertake perilous journeys through Panama’s Darién region, facing threats from wild animals and criminal groups.
Recently, Panamanian police returned dozens of immigrants, mostly from Venezuela, who were attempting to return home after abandoning their plans to reach the US due to Trump’s deportation policies. The police forced the group to return to Costa Rica as part of an organized repatriation process.
Trump’s Immigration Policies and Regional Impact
Since assuming office on January 20, Trump has declared a national emergency at the southern US border and vowed to deport millions of immigrants. Deported individuals have been sent to countries like Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Guatemala, and even the infamous Guantanamo Bay military base in Cuba.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during his visit to Panama two weeks ago, expressed hope that Panama would address US concerns regarding the Panama Canal. During the same visit, President Mulino pledged increased cooperation with the new US administration on immigrant repatriation and offered the use of an airstrip in the town of Metetí.
Metetí: A Crucial Crossing Point for Immigrants
Metetí, a dense jungle area, has become a key crossing point for immigrants attempting to travel from South America to the US. Former US President Joe Biden, during Mulino’s election campaign last year, signed an agreement to provide $6 million to assist in the deportation of immigrants.
Shortly after taking office, Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border and reaffirmed his commitment to deporting millions of immigrants.
This development highlights the ongoing challenges and complexities of US immigration policies and their far-reaching impact on countries like Panama, which are increasingly being drawn into the process of managing deported individuals.
