PANAMA CITY (AP) — Panama deported 29 Colombians on Tuesday, the Panamanian government said, in a flight the first paid for by the United States under an agreement signed between the two countries in July.

The Colombians had entered Panama illegally through the Darién jungle, a route used by more than 500,000 migrants heading north last year, the vast majority of them Venezuelans.

But at least for now, Panama cannot deport Venezuelans because relations between the two countries have been strained since Panama – like most other countries in the region – refused to recognize the results of Venezuela’s elections that allowed President Nicolás Maduro to serve another term. The two countries have severed diplomatic relations.

Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino, who took office on July 1, promised to stop this flow of migration – an interest he shares with the US government.

Mulino had originally said the flights were “voluntary” returns, but the people deported on Tuesday had criminal records, officials said.

Roger Mojico, director of Panama’s immigration service, told reporters on Tuesday that Panama is talking with other countries such as Ecuador and India about coordinating repatriation flights.

The Associated Press