Panama today deported 29 Colombian immigrants who had criminal records and entered the country illegally through the Darien jungle. It is the first time Panama has implemented the immigration deal it signed with the US in July.

“We have here the first flight of the deal, sponsored by the US” Deputy Security Minister Luis Felipe Icasa told reporters, flanked by American officials, after the plane carrying the 29 deportees took off in Bogota, Colombia.

Before taking their seats in the Fokker 50 plane, the immigrants were screened one by one. They had no luggage with them, and they boarded slowly, as their hands and feet were chained.

According to Icasa, another flight will depart “on Friday or Saturday” under the agreement Panama signed with the US on July 1, the day of the inauguration of new President Jose Raul Molino. Under the terms of this cooperation agreement, Washington is committed to funding the repatriation of migrants crossing the Darien jungle on the border between Panama and Colombia to the tune of $6 million. Initially, the deportations are for immigrants with criminal records, but the agreement provides for the repatriation of anyone crossing the jungle to reach the US.

“The deal applies to everyone, not just criminals” said Marlene Pinheiro, the US Homeland Security director for Central America.

Panama had moved, at least twice this year and before the implementation of the agreement, to repatriate Colombian irregular migrants who had a bad record.

President Molino has vowed to “close” the Darien Jungle Passage, a route taken in 2023 by half a million migrants from South America to reach the US through Central America and Mexico.