Panama to launch deportation flights to China and India, as well as regional neighbors

SUMMARY

Panama is set to deport over 100 illegals from China, India, Ecuador, and Colombia as part of its efforts to curb the increasing flow of illegal aliens traveling north through Central America. President Jose Mulino announced the move on Thursday, highlighting Panama's collaboration with the U.S. to discourage illegal migration. The first deportation flight, scheduled for September 3rd, will send 70 Indian nationals back to India, with additional flights planned for Chinese, Ecuadorian, and Colombian illegals. The deportations are part of a broader strategy to manage the surge in U.S.-bound illegals crossing into Panama from the Darién Gap, a perilous rainforest region linking South and Central America. This year, over 230,000 people have traversed the Darién Gap, marking a 30% increase compared to the same period in 2023, according to Panama’s migration agency chief Roger Mojica.