By Marlyn Montilla
03 Oct 2023, 16:01 PM EDT
The United States government will collaborate with Panama to develop a program that will repatriate migrants who do not have a legal basis to remain in the Central American country or to request asylum, an official from the Democratic administration confirmed.
Washington’s help will focus, among other things, on ensuring that people facing torture or persecution in their respective countries of origin are protected.
This program responds to a request from the Panamanian authorities, said the source.
Likewise, the White House plans to dedicate $10 million to help Panamanian authorities deport more migrants, in hopes of reducing pressure on the southern border of the United States.
The pilot program would last about six months and would be aimed at single adult men, according to Axios. It could start operating in the middle of this month of October.
This news comes when Panama registers a significant increase in migratory crossings through the Darién jungle on their journey to the United States.
At the end of September it was revealed that so far this year some 400,000 immigrants have entered the country through that dangerous route, far above the 248,000 people who registered in 2022 and the 133,000 in 2021.
Nearly 25% of the migratory flow is made up of minors, according to official data.
The vast majority of migrants are from South America, more than 324,000, led by Venezuelans, more than 252,000, Ecuadorians 47,724 and Colombians 13,404. They are also followed by Antilleans with more than 39,200, Asians 27,878 and Africans 7,389.
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