PANAMA CITY — US President Joe Biden said in a phone call with Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino that US-funded flights would start this month to repatriate migrants illegally crossing into Panama through the Darien jungle, according to a Panama government statement.

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Panama and the US agreed in July to the flights as part of a deal aimed at curbing illegal migration through the region, with Mulino saying last week that Panama was still awaiting the financial assistance for the program.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.