Immigration
Migrants deported by the US to Panama are still looking for a country to call home
In February, the US deported nearly 300 asylum-seekers to Panama. Most of the deportees had come to the US not from Panama, but from Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia, in many cases fleeing civil wars and religious persecution. In Panama, some religious institutions have taken them in.
USAID freeze could lead to instability in Latin America and encourage migration
A US shutdown of foreign aid is starting to have devastating impacts around the world. Health programs and even military assistance are now paused in many countries. In Latin America, some fear that the aid freeze could hurt economic programs and encourage more people to migrate to the United States.
Deportations create tensions between the US and Latin America, with China possibly benefiting from the situation
As the US increases deportation flights to crack down on illegal immigration, some Latin American nations are complaining about how their citizens are being treated. Meanwhile, as tensions with the US increase, China could be stepping in to try and fill the void.
Irregular migration to Europe is down — except on Spain’s Canary Islands
In 2024, an average of nearly two migrant boats reached the Canary Islands each day. 692 boats in all carried more than 46,000 people that year, mostly from Mauritania, Senegal and Morocco. The majority arrive to the tiny, westernmost island of El Hierro, where emergency services struggle to help new arrivals. But most islanders are receiving the migrants warmly.