Panama Deportation Flights: A Biden-Era Policy Now Playing Out Under Trump

PANAMA CITY, PANAMA – Recent deportation flights from the U.S. to Panama have sparked discussion about whether this is a new immigration policy under the Trump administration. However, a closer look reveals that these operations are actually the continuation of an agreement signed under President Joe Biden in 2024.

The Origin of the U.S.-Panama Deportation Agreement

In July 2024, the U.S. and Panama signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at managing migration through the Darién Gap, the treacherous jungle route connecting South and Central America. Under this agreement:

• The U.S. funds deportation flights for migrants who crossed into Panama without legal documentation.
• Panama acts as a transit country, temporarily hosting migrants before repatriating them to their home countries.
• The policy was intended to reduce the number of migrants heading north toward the U.S. border.

Why Are These Deportations Happening Now?

Although Trump is now in office, the recent deportations are not a new initiative by his administration. Instead, they are the direct execution of the 2024 agreement signed under Biden.

• First flights under the agreement began in late 2024, when Biden was still president.
• February 2025 deportation flights are merely a continuation of that policy, not a shift in direction.
• Panama continues to follow through on the agreement, working to handle logistical challenges and financial responsibilities tied to the migrant situation.

How This Impacts Panama and the Region

• Panama’s role in this strategy is twofold—maintaining strong U.S. ties while ensuring humane treatment of migrants.
• Migrants traveling through Panama should understand that the deportation process remains unchanged, regardless of who is in office.
• For U.S.-Panama relations, this continued enforcement highlights a stable, long-term collaboration on migration policy, unaffected by political shifts.

Looking Beyond Politics: The Policy at Work

This story is a prime example of how immigration enforcement policies often transcend administrations. While some may frame these deportation flights as a new Trump initiative, the reality is they were planned, funded, and enacted under Biden.

At Panama Connect Online, our goal is to cut through misinformation and clarify what policies actually mean for Panama, expats, and migrants alike.

Stay with us for more fact-based reporting on U.S.-Panama relations and migration policies.