Colombian and Ecuadorian Migrants To Return to Their Countries Under Panama-US Agreement
Migrants crossing a river in the Darien jungle, 2024. Photo: X/ @julieturkewitz
August 22, 2024 Hour: 2:13 pm
So far this year, over 230,000 migrants from all over the world have entered Panama after crossing the Darien jungle.
Irregular migrants from Colombia, Ecuador, and India who arrived in Panama after crossing the Darien jungle will be returned to their countries starting next Saturday.
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This will happen thanks to an agreement between Panama and the United States signed on July 1. The first of these flights, financed by the United States, departed from Panama to Medellín on August 20 with about thirty Colombian migrants who were deported.
On Thursday, Panamanian President Jose Mulino announced the schedule for the upcoming return flights of migrants, which will be carried out until August 30.
Eighteen Ecuadorian migrants will return to their country on August 29. The following day, 30 Colombian migrants will be repatriated, and subsequently, 70 migrants will travel to India on September 3.
In his weekly press conference, Mulino said that the repatriation of Chinese citizens is also planned, but he did not give a date for it.
So far this year, more than 230,000 irregular migrants from all over the world have entered Panama after crossing the Darien jungle, which borders Colombia.
On Tuesday, the U.S. regional attaché for internal security, Marlen Piñeiro, said that most people who reach the United States after crossing the Darién “will not qualify to enter” the North American country.
The agreement between Panama and the U.S., which includes the repatriation of migrants with or without criminal records, has a cost of about US$6 million, which will be covered by the U.S. government.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE
