Among the Colombian migrants deported from Panama were members of the Aragua Train

The scorching Panamanian sun had not yet risen, and the first US-funded flight had not yet arrived. to return migrants who have crossed the Darien jungle, the dangerous border forest with Colombia, had already taken off.

>>> See more: First flight of migrants who crossed the Darien River leaves Panama for Colombia

Thus, under the humidity of the early morning and the glare of television cameras, the multimillion-dollar agreement between Panama and the United States was materialized, seeking to dissuade travelers in order to reduce the flow of them through that jungle, through which more than 230,000 people have passed this year on their way to North America. The destination of this flight was the city of Medellin.

The authorities emphasize that criminals and drug traffickers sneak into this huge migratory flow through the jungle. members of the most dangerous criminal organizations on the continent, such as the Clan del Golfo (of Colombian origin) or the transnational Tren de Aragua, which originated in Venezuela.

“One of the individuals” deported on Tuesday “belongs to the Clan del Golfo, we understand that he is a hitman (… and) has several homicide cases in Colombia,” said the director of the Panamanian National Migration Service (SNM), Roger Mojica.

Is there a humanitarian crisis in Darien?

The Panamanian authorities themselves emphasize that what is happening in the Darien jungle is a “humanitarian crisis,” but that it must be stopped as it becomes a “security problem.” In addition, in recent weeks they had indicated that these refunds on flights paid for by the US would be “voluntary.”

An almost inconceivable idea for those who have risked their lives crossing the Darien, a jungle that not only physically and mentally destroys migrants, but is also plagued by natural dangers and the presence of armed groups, where many are raped, assaulted and robbed.

So far, No migrant has “offered” to return after crossing the jungle, Mojica stresses“Voluntary return is the same as repatriation, that is, to this day, no one has volunteered to return to their country.”

The first group of returnees boarded the plane, handcuffed and looking bewildered. Most of them could barely walk – some immigration officials were offering support – because of their feet, which were swollen with sores from crossing one of the most difficult jungles on the planet.

While waiting for the order to board the Air Panama plane, some of the repatriated, all men, lifted the handcuffs from their swollen ankles, while others prayed with their palms facing the sky.

In three rows with groups of 10 people, the “Colombians with criminal records” boarded the plane under a security detail and under the watchful eyes of officials from the U.S. Embassy from the diminutive Marcos A. Gelaber Airport, on the banks of the Panama Canal.

The return for Venezuelans, the majority nationality that crosses the jungle, This will not be possible for the time being due to the social situation and the suspension of diplomatic relations between the two countries following the post-election crisis, according to Panamanian authorities.

“The issue of Venezuela is already a particular one. Due to diplomatic relations, we are currently prevented from making any kind of movement towards Venezuela. And even more so, we could endanger the person we would be returning, and that would violate international rights,” said the director of Migration.

This situation is developing when a wave of migrants from Venezuela is expected through Darién due to the crisis in their country, as warned by the president of Panama, José Raúl Mulino.

The flights will be made with the other predominant citizenships in Darien, such as Ecuador and India – in addition to Colombia -, according to the information given this Tuesday. They have emphasized that they will be returned under the figure of repatriation or deportation. “both those with criminal records and those who enter the country illegally, which are all those who enter through Darién.”

The Darien has been used as a migratory route to reach North America, mainly the United States, in search of better living conditions. The passing of the years has progressively left record numbers up to 520,000 last year and this 2024 is expected to be more.

The United States has tried to stop this migration through the jungle with different methods, one of them being this recent agreement to return migrants from Panama on flights sponsored by the United States, which also eliminates any type of option for those who have crossed Darien to enter legally.

“Most of these people are not going to qualify. That’s why we ask them not to take the route, to stay in a country where they are safe and if they think they are eligible for something, to apply to one of the mobile security offices or another mechanism.“clarified the regional attaché for internal security of the United States, Marlen Piñeiro.

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