1,941 people were deported in 2008

The director of the institution, Clovis Sinisterra said that the opening of the center for complaints has contributed to the increase in the number of deportations.

Sinisterra added that additional security immigration measures have been applied at the Tocumen Airport and as a result 1,549 people had been returned to their countries for not having visas, economic means, or for carrying altered passports and other reasons.

The deported illegal immigrants will not be able to enter Panama for 10 years and then only will be admitted after obtaining permission from the Panamanian government.

So far in the first week of the year, 60 men and 8 women have been deported for overstaying in the country.