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The U.S. government, under President Biden’s leadership, is considering allocating a significant amount of foreign aid to assist Panama in increasing its migrant deportations. This move aims to curb the influx of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Notably, this pilot initiative faced opposition from Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) for an extended period. However, with Menendez stepping down from his position as the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee due to bribery allegations, the path for the program has been cleared.

This swift move towards a contentious strategy underscores the administration’s urgency to manage the border situation.

Sources have informed that the administration will soon announce its intention to allocate up to $10 million for this pilot project, which aims to support Panama in deporting migrants ineligible for protections. The program, set to last six months, will be a collaborative effort between the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, primarily focusing on single adult males. The initiative could commence as soon as mid-October.

Interestingly, Panama had previously expressed a desire for such assistance from the U.S., as per internal documents.

It’s worth noting that a similar proposal was introduced during the Trump era in 2018, which Menendez also opposed. Historically, U.S. foreign aid has been designated for specific objectives and hasn’t been utilized to bolster another nation’s deportation activities. Menendez, a strong advocate for immigrant rights, has consistently resisted altering this norm and has had disagreements with the current administration on various immigration issues.

Former President Donald Trump, the frontrunner for the GOP nomination, will again not be participating in the debate. He has refused to sign the RNC loyalty pledge, vowing to support the eventual Republican nominee in the general election. Instead, Trump will be making a prime-time address to striking autoworkers in Detroit, Michigan on Wednesday.