Reuters reported that on the evening of February 12 local time, a military flight from California carrying 119 immigrants from Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, India, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Vietnam landed in Panama.
Panama President Jose Raul Mulino confirmed that the group were temporarily staying in a local hotel and would be transferred to Darien, a province in eastern Panama, for repatriation.
The New York Times said this could be the start of a faster deportation campaign. This event marks a shift in President Donald Trump's immigration policy, as Central American and South American countries begin to accept cooperation with the US under diplomatic pressure.
Panama, which has been under pressure from the Trump administration over the Panama Canal, is proving to be an important partner in the deportation campaign.
President Mulino also revealed that Panama will soon receive two more flights from the US, carrying a total of 360 people. All travel and return expenses will be covered by US residents.
In a statement on February 13, the International Migration Organization (IOM) said it was providing support to new migrants at the request of the Panama government, including "supporting them to return to their homeland or safe alternatives".
Human rights organizations are concerned about the US starting negotiations with other countries, including El Salvador and Guatemala, to expand the deportation campaign. Many governments have been criticized for pushing migrants to dangerous areas with high levels of violence.
In addition to the issue of migration, Panama also faces pressure from the US over China's influence over the Panama Canal. Trump has repeatedly threatened to regain control of the vital shipping route.
Regarding Vietnam, at the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam on the afternoon of February 13, answering questions about exchanges between Vietnam and the US on the issue of deportation of immigrants, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said that the reception of Vietnamese citizens deported by the US is carried out on the basis of agreements on receiving citizens back signed between the two countries. In recent times, the two countries have coordinated closely, quickly and promptly on this issue.
"Vietnam is ready to continue to cooperate closely with the US side in receiving citizens again in the spirit of signed agreements and hoping that the US will create favorable residence conditions for Vietnamese citizens, contribute to the development and prosperity of the US, as well as actively contribute to the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and the US, for peace, cooperation and sustainable development" - Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said.
