Under a $6m US deal, hundreds of migrants from Colombia and Ecuador were deported back to their home countriesOutside the Lajas Blancas migrant camp in southern Panama, wooden shops are boarded up. A bed of cold ash lies in an iron drum barbecue which once served meat skewers to hungry migrants.Six months ago, hundreds of people would pass through the camp every day, emerging from the jungles of the Darién Gap between Colombia and Panama to receive humanitarian aid, before continuing their journey north towards the US. Continue reading...
A $6 million deal between the US and Panama led to the deportation of hundreds of Colombian and Ecuadorian migrants who had crossed the Darién Gap, while others were deterred by the shutdown of the CBP One app. Migrant crossings have decreased significantly, with a reverse flow of migrants attempting to return home. Many migrants feel tricked, as promised repatriation flights from Panama did not materialize, and a boat capsizing resulted in a child's death.
