Friday, 130 Indian refugees were sent back to India by Panama. This was the first removal outside of the Americas under a deal that was made with the US in July. The dangerous Darien swamp is how these people got into Panama. This was the fourth removal under this deal as a whole.
The US promised $6 million to Panama to help with sending migrants back home, thinking that this would cut down on illegal crossings into Panama from the south. Washington is putting more pressure on countries like Panama to deal with migration problems, especially since the US election is coming up soon.
Roger Mojica, who is in charge of migration in Panama, stated that the Indian refugees were taken back to New Delhi. Marlen Pineiro, who is the US Security Attaché for Central America, praised Panama’s efforts and said that people coming to the US illegally must stop.
People trying to get to the United States often go through the dangerous Darien Gap, which is located between Colombia and Panama. Even though it was risky, more than 500,000 people without papers, mostly from Venezuela, crossed the area last year.
Under the July deal, Panama’s first goal was to send back immigrants with crime records. But this might soon include people who come into Panama through the Darien Gap as well. This deal was made on the same day that Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino took office, with promises that pass over the Darien would be fixed.
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