Panama deported 29 Colombians on Tuesday on a flight funded by the United States. This flight marked the first under an agreement signed by the two countries in July.

The Colombians had entered Panama illegally through the Darien jungle, a route used by over 500,000 migrants heading north last year. A vast majority of these migrants were from Colombia.

However, Panama is currently unable to deport Venezuelans due to strained relations between the two countries. Panama, like other countries in the region, has refused to recognize the results of Venezuela’s election, which gave President Nicolás Maduro another term. As a result, diplomatic relations between the two countries have been suspended.

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, who assumed office on July 1, has vowed to curb the migration flow, a goal he shares with the U.S. government.

Mulino had initially stated that the flights would be for voluntary repatriations. However, officials revealed that those deported on Tuesday had criminal records.

Roger Mojico, director of Panama’s National Immigration Service, informed reporters on Tuesday that Panama is in discussions with other nations, including Ecuador and India, to coordinate repatriation flights.