PANAMA CITY — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio saw a special flight leaving Panama that was taking 43 migrants back to their home country, Colombia. President Donald Trump’s administration is focused on stopping people from trying to come to the U.S.
Rubio was in Panama City for a two-day visit as part of a trip to five Central American countries. He talked a lot about immigration, which is a big issue for Trump. The flight had 32 men and 11 women who had crossed through the Darien Gap, a dangerous jungle area, before being stopped in Panama.
It’s not common for a Secretary of State to watch a deportation flight, especially in front of cameras. The U.S. State Department said these deportations send a strong message to deter illegal migration. They have also given Panama nearly $2.7 million to help with flights and tickets for deportations.
“Mass migration is a big problem today,” Rubio said. “Many people who try to migrate are often victims during their journey, and it harms everyone involved.”
This flight happened after Trump recently threatened to take action against countries that wouldn’t accept deportation flights. While Colombia initially refused two flights, Panama has been more supportive and has allowed deportees to be sent back home before reaching the U.S.
Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino agreed to cut ties with China after Rubio warned him about reducing China’s influence in the Panama Canal. Since the agreement with the U.S., Panama has sent nearly 2,000 migrants back home, mainly Colombians, but also some Ecuadorians.
The number of migrants crossing from Colombia through the Darien Gap has dropped by more than 90% this year compared to last year. Mulino believes this drop is thanks to measures they have taken to manage the flow of migrants better.
While Panamanian officials are working on migrant issues, the majority of migrants crossing the Darien in recent years have been from Venezuela, but Venezuela is not accepting deportation flights from Panama.
Next, Rubio will travel to El Salvador, where immigration will also be a key topic. He will also visit Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic. This trip comes when the U.S. is cutting back on foreign aid, but Rubio approved waivers for some important programs in these countries.
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