The United States is deporting unauthorized migrants from African and Asian countries to Panama under a major diplomatic breakthrough, according to internal federal documents obtained by CBS News. On Wednesday, an American military flight deported 119 migrants, including adults and families with children, to Panama.
The agreement allows the US to deport non-Panamanians to Central America, a corridor for mass migration in recent years. The flights represent a significant diplomatic win for President Trump and his administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration.
Panama’s foreign ministry confirmed it received the first flight under an agreement that covers the costs of deportations. The flights come after efforts by the US to convince countries across the region to accept migrants who are difficult to deport, even if they are not citizens of their nations.
El Salvador and Guatemala have already agreed to accept migrant deportees from the US who are not from their countries. Panama’s willingness to accept deportees also coincides with President Trump’s interest in retaking control of the strategically important Panama Canal.
The US has long struggled to deport migrants from Africa and Asia due to the distance involved and government rejections. The agreement marks a significant development in the administration’s efforts to convince countries across the region to accept migrant deportees.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-deportations-panama-african-asian-migrants