2024-08-20 13:30:21
Panama on Thursday, August 20, has released twenty-nine Colombian immigrants with criminal records who entered the country illegally through the Darien forest, implementing for the first time the agreement on immigration with the United States ended in July.
“We have the first contract flight funded by the United States”Panama’s Deputy Defense Minister Luis Felipe Icaza told reporters next to US officials after the plane carrying twenty-nine migrants to Bogota from the Albrook airport of the capital has taken the Panamanian city.
Before boarding the Fokker F50 aircraft, the evacuees were inspected one by one with metal objects. They did not pack their luggage and entered slowly, with their hands and feet tied. According to Mr. Icaza, another plane should go “Friday or Saturday” as part of the agreement concluded between Panama and the United States on July 1, the inauguration day of the new Panamanian President, José Raul Mulino.
“Off” the Darien Jungle way
Under the terms of this cooperation agreement, Washington decided to finance up to $6 million for the returns of migrants who crossed the Darien forest, on the border between Panama and Colombia.
In the first phase, the exceptions must apply to immigrants with criminal records, but the agreement provides for the return of anyone who entered Panama through the Darien forest on their way to the United States. “The deal applies to everyone, not just criminals”Marleine Pineiro, head of US Homeland Security for Central America, was present during the outing with other US and Panamanian officials.
This is the first group of immigrants removed under the new agreement, although Panama has made at least two removals this year by flying to Colombia Colombian citizens with criminal records.
During his inauguration speech, Mr. Mulino promised to “adhere to” the Darien forest route, used in 2023 by half a million migrants from South America to reach the United States through Central America and Mexico. He then tempered his words on July 18 by deciding to return to the city “by force” emigrants crossing the Darien forest.
#Panama #twentynine #Colombian #immigrants #deported #month #agreement #United #States