US Deports Uzbek Migrants to Panama

The United States recently sent 119 migrants of various nationalities to Panama as part of an agreement between the two countries. This was announced by Panama’s President, Jose Raul Mulino.

The first flight with the deportees arrived on Wednesday. Among the passengers were individuals from Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. Two additional flights are expected soon, and 360 migrants are planned for transfer to Panama.

Before being sent back to their home countries, the migrants will stay in a shelter near the Darien Jungle, which is a well-known route for illegal migration to the US.

President Mulino had previously discussed with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio the possibility of increasing the deportation of additional migrants. Panama and the US are also exploring the expansion of this agreement to include the repatriation of Venezuelans, Colombians, and Ecuadorians, with Washington covering the costs. According to Panama’s Deputy Security Minister Luis Icaza, cooperation with the US in January led to a 90% reduction in the flow of migrants through the Darien area compared to the previous year.

In a related note, Kursiv Uzbekistan reported that 35% of Uzbeks believe it will become impossible to work in Russia following the tightening of migration laws.