Return to sender: Panama begins flying migrants back…at US taxpayers’ expense

The Republic of Panama launched a new program on Tuesday that will see illegal immigrants transiting through the country flown back to their home countries – with the cost borne by U.S. taxpayers..

The repatriation flight program is one of several ways that Panama’s new president, José Raúl Mulino, is following through on his campaign promise to end his country’s role as a major funnel for illegal immigrants headed to the United States. Last year, a new record was reached, with more than half a million migrants crossing the famous Darien Gap jungle wilderness. which extends over the border region between Panama and Colombia.

The first repatriation flight on Tuesday was loaded with 29 Colombians, all with criminal records The two men were arrested in their home countries, one of them suspected of being a member of the powerful Clan del Golfo gang, aka the Gaitanistas. They were all arrested after crossing the Darien Fault, and were handcuffed and shackled at the ankles as they were led to an Air Panama plane. Panama’s migration management chief Roger Mojica told reporters that flights to other destinations were in the works, including India and Ecuador, with the next flight scheduled to take place as early as Friday.

Critically, The expulsion of Venezuelans, who represent the largest subset of the flow of illegal migrants, could be delayedthanks to Panama’s suspension of diplomacy with Venezuela after the disputed presidential election in July. Pre-election polls indicated that many Venezuelans intended to leave their country if President Nicolas Maduro won. His declared victory is disputed, and the Biden administration wants him to change the regime himself. Supporting Washington’s agenda, Panama’s Mulino offered Maduro “safe passage” en route to a third country; Maduro warned Mulino not to “go after” Venezuela.

Under an agreement announced the same day in July that Mulino was sworn in, the U.S. government will cover Panama’s expenses for the expulsion of people who enter Panama illegally, in addition to helping with “equipment, transportation and logistics.” The initial commitment calls for America to contribute $6 million.

The famous Pan-American Highway has a 66-mile stretch that begins just inside Colombia, forcing migrants make a perilous journey on foot through a mountainous and marshy region called the Darien GapThey must not only survive dangerous natural conditions, but also robberies, kidnappings, rapes and murders carried out by criminal gangs that roam the scorching jungle.

Earlier this month, Panamanian border police arrest 15 people linked to illicit operation of ‘VIP’ migrant trafficking for Chinese clients. Using boats, canoes, ATVs and horses, the high-end service promised faster, easier and safer passage to Panama — at a higher price. Migrants pay about $500 for a standard escort through the passage, but fees for the expedited trip range from $2,600 to $8,000.

Marlen Pineiro of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security told reporters about Tuesday’s flight that brought Colombians home: “The message we’re sending is very clear: Darien is no longer a road.” Considering she was referring to a few dozen Colombians compared to the roughly 8,000 who crossed the border in the first weeks of August alone, That’s a hell of a speech.