Panama"s President vows to deport migrants crossing Darién Gap

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, who took office on July 1, 2024, has announced plans to deport migrants traveling through the Darién Gap, a perilous jungle route connecting Panama and Colombia. This decision follows a record influx of migrants, with approximately 520,000 documented crossings in 2023, primarily from Venezuela, Ecuador, Haiti, and China. Mulino's administration aims to end the transit of migrants through this region, emphasizing that it is not a passageway but a border that needs to be secured. During his campaign, Mulino pledged to close the Darién Gap and implement a repatriation process that respects human rights. He has not yet detailed how this closure will be achieved, but he has warned potential migrants that they will be sent back to their countries of origin. His statements have raised concerns among local authorities in Colombia, who fear that such measures could worsen the already critical migratory situation at the border. The mayor of Necoclí, a Colombian town near the border, expressed alarm over the potential impact of Mulino's policies, citing a recent incident where around 1,000 migrants overwhelmed local resources. The mayor's office highlighted the challenges faced in managing large groups of migrants, indicating that the situation could escalate if Panama enforces stricter border controls. As Mulino's government seeks international support for its repatriation efforts, the implications of his policies on regional migration patterns and humanitarian conditions remain to be seen. The president's approach reflects a broader trend in Central America, where governments are grappling with the complexities of migration and border security amid ongoing crises in neighboring countries.