Panama says it’s working to formalize a route long used to smuggle migrants on the way to the U.S., which is now being increasingly used to return migrants to South America in a reverse flow triggered by the Trump administration.

A boat carrying 19 migrants, part of a “reverse flow” of migrants who once hoped to reach the United States, capsized off Caribbean coast of Panama

The group of unauthorized migrants, which includes children, were bused to the camp late Tuesday night. “It looks like a zoo, there are fenced cages,” said one of the detainees.

Panama is detaining in a hotel nearly 300 people from various countries deported by the United States, not allowing them to leave while waiting for international authorities to organize a return to their countries.

A boat with 19 migrants from Venezuela and Colombia and two crew sank off Panama, border police in charge of the rescue operation said Saturday.

A boat carrying 19 South American migrants blocked from entering the US sank off the coast of Panama as they returned to their home countries. | TAG24

The administration has asked Panama to take in hundreds of people who can’t easily be sent back to their countries. Many say they are in danger.

Panama says it’s working to formalize a route long used to smuggle migrants on the way to the U.S., which is now being increasingly used to return migrants to South America in a reverse flow triggered

Panama is detaining in a hotel nearly 300 people from various countries deported under U.S. President Donald Trump, not allowing them to leave while waiting for international authorities to organize a return to their countries.

Migrants from countries like Venezuela and Colombia, unwilling to once again risk their lives crossing the Darien, have paid boats to carry them back to South America along the Caribbean Sea pressing up against Panama