On August 20, 2024, Panama carried out its first US-funded deportation flight, repatriating 29 Colombian migrants from Panama City to Medellín, Colombia. This operation is part of a broader initiative aimed at curbing the flow of migrants traveling north through Central America toward the United States.

The deportees, including a suspected member of the Clan del Golfo criminal organization, were handcuffed at their hands and feet as they boarded the flight under the supervision of Panama’s migration agency. Panama’s Deputy Security Minister, Luis Felipe Icaza, confirmed the deportation, emphasizing the country’s commitment to addressing unauthorized migration through its territory.

This deportation marks a significant step following a memorandum of cooperation signed between the United States and Panama on July 1, 2024. The agreement focuses on reducing the number of migrants crossing Panama without proper documentation on their way to the US. This initiative is part of a larger effort by both nations to manage the challenges posed by irregular migration in the region.

In a related move, Panama recently installed barbed wire across several routes in the Darién jungle—a perilous region between Panama and Colombia often used by migrants. The installation of these barriers is intended to discourage the use of this dangerous passage, which has seen a significant influx of migrants in recent years.

Despite these efforts, the Darién Gap continues to be a critical point of entry, with over 230,000 peopl

e crossing into Panama from Colombia this year alone. However, Panama’s migration agency has reported a 30% decrease in crossings compared to the same period in 2023, signaling a potential shift in migration patterns due to these recent enforcement measures.