International
USA: “In the coming days, weeks,” Panama could deport Venezuelans to a third country
“In the coming days, weeks at the latest,” Panama could begin the air deportation of Venezuelans who cross the Darién jungle, the natural border with Colombia, to third countries, as part of the agreement between the Panamanian Government and the United States signed on July 1, the US Regional Internal Security attaché, Marlen Piñeiro, assured EFE on Wednesday.
“Yes, we have approached several countries and we think that in the coming days, weeks at the latest, we will have ways to return Venezuelans to third countries where they will be safe,” said Piñeiro in an interview, who has so far been the representative of the US authorities during the deportation flights carried out by Panama since last August.
Asked if she could advance with which countries they are holding talks, she said that “not yet”: “But we have talked to several,” she acknowledged.
The agreement, signed on the first day of the new Administration of President José Raúl Mulino, contemplates the repatriation by air and based on Panamanian laws of irregular migrants who have arrived in Panama after crossing the border jungle.
The migrants
The United States finances the flights with an initial amount of 6 million dollars, of which more than 1.1 million dollars have already been used on 20 flights, the last one this morning, to countries such as Colombia, Ecuador and India, and which affected about 800 migrants.
Since the flights began, there has been a drastic reduction in the number of Colombians and Ecuadorians crossing the Darién, of 65% and 92%, respectively, according to a statement by the US authorities.
But the vast majority of migrants crossing the jungle are Venezuelans who could not be deported given the suspension, since the end of July, of diplomatic relations between Panama and Venezuela as a result of the crisis triggered after the elections.
The data from the Panamanian authorities are resounding: of the more than 263,000 migrants who crossed the Darién until the end of September, the last month with the complete figures, 67% were Venezuelans, while in 2023, when the historical record of people who had crossed this jungle, with more than 520,000, 63% also came from Venezuela.
Generalized drop in the number of migrants due to the Darién
But despite the fact that there are no deportation flights for Venezuelans, the data also indicate a generalized drop in the number of migrants, with 274,444 irregular travelers who until October 13 had arrived in Panama, 36.5% less than the 432,211 registered in the same period of 2023.
“We think it’s due to the good work that this administration has done in Panama. We also think it has to do with the proclamation made by President (American Joe) Biden on our own border in June. Those two things (had their reason), which was that people thought twice (before) coming through the irregular road,” the official stressed.
The deportations
Piñeiro also confirmed that although it had initially been said that deportations would be voluntary, “so far all the deportations that have occurred have been involuntary deportations or expulsions, consistent with Panamanian law.”
In addition, there have been complaints from migrants, as EFE testified in the Lajas Blancas migratory reception center in Darién, that family separations occurred by the immigration authorities of Panama, in particular cases in which the Colombian husband was deported, while the Venezuelan mother was allowed to continue her journey to North America.
The regional internal security attaché assured that she had no “recode of that.”
“If there is any allegation about that, we would explore it. However, I always repeat that it is Panamanian law and if Panamanian law decides that someone should be deported, for example it is possible that they have had a criminal (history), they are eligible to be deported under Panamanian law,” he said.
However, he noted that most migrants who enter through the Darién and are deported have no criminal record, but are deported for having entered Panama irregularly.
Increase in destination countries
US authorities detailed that in addition to the charter flights already made to Colombia, Ecuador and India, four irregular migrants were returned on commercial flights to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia and Turkey, but Piñeiro said that they hope to expand the nationalities.
“I can confirm that we are talking to all the countries where migrants are entering. To clarify, Panama is talking to the countries where migrants are entering to return them under Panamanian law,” he said.
According to data until October revealed by the Panamanian authorities, the main countries of origin of the migrants crossing the Darién are, in this order, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, China, Haiti, India, Peru, Vietnam and Bangladesh.
Piñeiro, although born in the United States, is the daughter of Cubans with ancestors of Spanish origin, so she says she is aware of migration, a sector in which she has also worked for the last 37 years.
That is why, he emphasizes, he asks migrants to opt for “the legal routes” of migration, because sometimes “people think they do not qualify, but yes, there are work paths, there are family routes,” while with the irregular option they put themselves in danger.
“There is a lot of risk in the Darién, not only of violence, money, exploitation, the scars that are caused to children are scars that remain for life, it is not worth it,” he said.
International
Iran issues threat to Trump as conflict escalates over Strait of Hormuz
The head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, threatened U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, warning him to “beware of being eliminated.”
The Republican president had warned on Monday that he would strike Iran “very hard” if the Islamic Republic blocked oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, which has effectively been closed since the war began eleven days ago.
“Iran is not afraid of your empty threats. Others more powerful than you tried to destroy the Iranian nation and failed. Beware that you are not eliminated,” Larijani wrote on X.
Earlier, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards — the ideological military force of the Islamic Republic — also said their forces would move to block oil exports from the Gulf.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel’s military offensive against Iran is far from over.
“Our aspiration is that the Iranian people free themselves from the yoke of tyranny; ultimately, that depends on them. But there is no doubt that with the measures taken so far we are breaking their bones, and we are not finished yet,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
International
Driver detained after suspicious vehicle incident near the White House
The driver was detained and no injuries were reported after an incident that occurred before dawn in Lafayette Square, just north of the White House.
The U.S. Secret Service, which is responsible for presidential security, said in a statement that it was “investigating a suspicious vehicle.” The driver of the car was taken into custody and is currently being questioned.
Washington remains under heightened security measures amid the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran.
Police closed several major streets around the White House. However, by about 8:30 a.m. local time (12:30 GMT), government employees and staff from nearby institutions were allowed to pass through the area with proper identification, according to an AFP journalist at the scene.
Dozens of emergency vehicles with flashing lights responded to the location, while tourists and residents waited for authorities to reopen the streets.
International
Trump Raises Possibility of “Friendly Takeover” of Cuba Amid Deepening Crisis
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, reiterated Monday the possibility that Washington could pursue a “friendly takeover” of Cuba, amid the severe crisis facing the island following the oil blockade promoted by the U.S. government.
Speaking at a press conference in Miami, the president said that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is currently “negotiating” with representatives of the Cuban government, although authorities in Havana have repeatedly denied that such talks are taking place.
Trump suggested that Washington could play a more direct role in the island’s future.
“It may be a friendly takeover. It may not be a friendly takeover. It wouldn’t matter because they’re really down to, as they say, fumes. They have no energy, they have no money. They are in deep trouble on a humanitarian basis, and we really don’t want to see that,” the U.S. president said.
The president also argued that the Cuban government had long depended heavily on support from Venezuela, particularly oil supplies.
According to Trump, that support has been drastically reduced following measures adopted by Washington.
“They were living off Venezuela. Venezuela doesn’t send them energy, fuel, oil, money, or anything anymore. They couldn’t survive without Venezuela, they couldn’t have made it, and we cut everything off,” Trump said.
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