On August 20, U.S.-funded flights began to repatriate migrants who crossed the Darién jungle on the Panama-Colombian border. The initiative was announced by Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, who highlighted the partnership with the U.S., stating that these flights will have no cost to Panama, since the problem originates at the Darién border, not in Texas.

Mulino expressed sadness for the situation of migrants, mostly Venezuelans, who face extreme conditions at the crossing and suffer the consequences of the political crisis in their country. He mentioned the humanitarian drama involving families and children, often orphans, who end up in shelters in Panama. In addition, Mulino warned of the presence of individuals linked to narcoterrorism and international terrorism among migrants, according to the publication.

The agreement between the U.S. and Panama, signed on July 1, provides for U.S. funding of $6 million to carry out return flights, with the aim of reducing the flow of migrants on the dangerous Darién route, used by more than 216,000 migrants this year alone. These flights will take the migrants back to Colombia, the country through which they entered.

Panama has also taken steps to control the flow of migrants, including the installation of barbed wire fences to channel migrants through a "humanitarian corridor." However, Mulino expressed concern that the number of migrants could increase depending on the political situation in Venezuela after the July 28 elections.

In addition to repatriation flights, Panama provides assistance and food to migrants in shelters in the Darién region and facilitates their continuation to Costa Rica, where they travel in buses paid for by the migrants themselves.