Panama's President-elect to Close Dangerous Migration Route to US
- Panama's President-elect Jose Raul Mulino plans to shut down a treacherous migration route used by over 500,000 migrants in the last year.
- The closure of the migration gap could have far-reaching effects from the Darien jungle to the US border.
- The decision marks a significant shift in Panama's immigration policy.
The new president of Panama, Jose Raul Mulino, wants to make big changes to help with the US border crisis. He plans to close a route through Panama that many migrants use to reach the US. This change is happening because the US is facing a crisis at its southern border. Panama used to let migrants pass through this route, but now they want to stop it. The US has been asking Mexico to help stop migrants from reaching its border. The Darien Gap, the route through Panama, has become popular among migrants in recent years. Criminal organizations have made it an affordable option for those trying to reach the US. Mulino won the election with 34% of the vote. He believes that by deporting migrants immediately, fewer people will try to pass through Panama. However, some experts doubt that this plan will reduce migration significantly. Panama may not have the resources to deport thousands of migrants every day. It remains to be seen if Mulino can reduce migration through this region with little government presence. The UN's International Organization for Migration will meet with Mulino's team to learn more about his plans. If the reasons causing migrants to leave their countries remain, they may find other dangerous routes, like sea routes from Colombia to Panama. Mulino believes that by deporting migrants, fewer people will want to pass through Panama. It is uncertain what Mulino can realistically achieve with this new policy. There are challenges in how this plan will work along such an open and uncontrolled border.