NEW YORK:The U.S. government has deported migrants from multiple Asian countries, including Pakistan, to Panama, marking a shift in its immigration policy, The New York Times reported on Thursday. The move comes as part of an effort to expedite the removal of individuals from countries that have previously been difficult to repatriate.
According to the report, a U.S. military aircraft departed from California, transporting over 100 migrants, including families, from nations such as Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan. The deportation follows U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent visit to Panama, a country under significant diplomatic pressure from Washington regarding its administration of the Panama Canal.
Panama’s President, Jose Raul Mulino, confirmed at a press conference that 119 migrants of various nationalities arrived in the country on Wednesday night aboard a U.S. Air Force flight. He stated that they were temporarily housed in a hotel before being relocated to a shelter in the Darien province. The International Organization for Migration (IOM), a UN agency, is overseeing their placement and eventual repatriation to their home countries.
“We aim to facilitate their departure as quickly as possible on flights arranged by the United States,” Mulino stated. “This is yet another way in which Panama is contributing to addressing migration challenges.”
The deportation strategy indicates a new phase in U.S. immigration policy, reflecting increased cooperation from some Latin American nations under diplomatic pressure. However, concerns have been raised about the fate of migrants relocated to unfamiliar environments where they may struggle with language barriers and cultural differences.
Panama recently introduced a proposal to send newly arrived migrants to a remote town near the Darien Gap—a treacherous jungle passage—and then repatriate them by air or sea. Officials have confirmed that additional deportation flights are planned, with two more U.S. Air Force planes expected to transport around 360 migrants to Panama in the coming weeks. The U.S. government will fully fund the repatriation process.
While exact timelines remain unclear, the Biden administration has secured agreements with countries such as El Salvador and Guatemala to accept deported individuals of various nationalities. Similar discussions are reportedly ongoing with other nations.
Critics, however, warn that relocating migrants to third-party countries may expose them to dangerous conditions and violate human rights protections. The evolving deportation strategy raises broader ethical and legal questions about U.S. immigration enforcement.
