US to pay for flights to help Panama remove migrants who may be heading north
This article is a summary of reporting by Associated Press. Originally published July 1, 2024.
Signed during the inauguration of Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, the agreement commits the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to covering charter and commercial flight costs for deporting individuals lacking legal status in Panama. U.S. personnel will provide training and screening expertise, although Panamanian authorities retain legal authority over removal decisions. President Mulino campaigned on shutting down the Darién Gap crossing, which saw over 500,000 migrants traverse the jungle in 2023. The agreement represents an unprecedented arrangement where the U.S. directly finances another sovereign nation's repatriation flights to deter northward migration.
AI Summary
The U.S. agreed to fund repatriation flights and training to help Panama expel migrants crossing through the Darién Gap.
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