The U.S. Connection To Panama That Will Shock You

US pays Panama to deport

How did taxpayer dollars end up funding Panama’s deportation flights?

At a Glance

  • Panama deported 29 Colombians on a flight funded by the United States.
  • The deportation is part of an agreement signed between Panama and the U.S. in July.
  • Over 500,000 migrants used the Darien jungle route last year, mostly Venezuelans.
  • Panama cannot currently deport Venezuelans due to strained relations with Venezuela.
  • The U.S. will pay for flights and offer other assistance to Panama under a new agreement.

Panama’s New Deportation Policy Funded by U.S. Dollars

Panama has begun implementing U.S.-funded deportation flights to send migrants back to their home countries. This past month, 29 Colombians were removed from the country on these U.S.-backed flights. This initiative is part of an agreement made in July between Panama and the U.S. to streamline the deportation process.

The situation has created a significant financial and political discussion, especially as more than 500,000 migrants — primarily Venezuelans — ventured through the treacherous Darien jungle into Panama last year. Yet, due to suspended diplomatic ties with Venezuela, Panama has found itself unable to deport its largest migrant group.

The Financial Burden of Deportation

Under this new agreement, the U.S. will not only pay for the flights but also provide assistance such as equipment, transportation, and logistics. This is all in an attempt to help Panama deal with its massive influx of illegal migrants. The decision is seen by some as a bid to address critiques of the Biden administration’s management of immigration and border security.

Nevertheless, the financial burden on U.S. taxpayers has not gone unnoticed. Critics question why American taxpayers should fund the deportations of migrants in Panama, especially when the costs of managing migration within the U.S. itself are already significant.

The Risks of the Darien Gap

The Darien Gap represents one of the most dangerous migration routes in the world, with its dense rain forests, mountainous terrains, and infamous swamps. Migrants brave treacherous conditions, disease, and violence from criminal groups. This route has become a significant pathway for migrants from countries such as Venezuela, Ecuador, Haiti, and even as far as Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Jean Gough, then regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean at the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), stated in 2021, “Deep in the jungle, robbery, rape, and human trafficking are as dangerous as wild animals, insects, and the absolute lack of safe drinking water.”

The journey usually starts in Necocli, Colombia, where migrants take an hour-long ferry ride to Acandí before facing the jungle. They endure landslides, scorching temperatures, and hazardous wildlife. Many exit the jungle at Bajo Chiquito or Canaán Membrillo in Panama, where international organizations provide medical aid and basic services.

Geopolitical and Economic Consequences

Panama’s asylum agency, ONPAR, has minimal capacity to handle asylum claims, lacking the resources and staff for long-term support. According to Panama’s Foreign Minister Erika Mouynes, the government does not have the money for sustained humanitarian assistance.

National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson commended the U.S.-Panama agreement, stating it “will help deter irregular migration in the region and at our southern border, and halt the enrichment of malign smuggling networks that prey on vulnerable migrants.”

This controversial policy beckons a broader conversation about how immigration and repatriation should be funded and managed on an international scale. With the rising tide of migrants and limited resources, Panama’s U.S.-backed deportation flights could be a temporary patch rather than a long-term solution.

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