U.S. 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.

Panama and the U.S. 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.