Biden's Promises on Migrants in Panama Fail

Panama's President, Laurentino Mulino, has expressed frustration over the lack of U.S. support in addressing the increasing flow of migrants through the Darién Gap, a treacherous 70-mile stretch of jungle that many South American migrants traverse en route to the United States. Nearly two months after the U.S. announced a “removal flights program” to assist Panama, the promised aid has yet to materialize, prompting a renewed surge of migrants, particularly from Venezuela, fleeing political violence. Mulino emphasized the urgent need for logistical support to reinforce the expulsion of migrants, aiming to deter the flow towards the U.S. He stated, “We need to change the migration politics of the border of the United States so we can send a very clear message to the migrants.” His remarks echo sentiments from the Panamanian presidential palace, which has publicly called on the Biden-Harris administration to take action. The delay in U.S. assistance, particularly in light of the recent unrest in Venezuela, raises questions about the Biden administration's commitment to curbing illegal immigration. The U.S. has reportedly offered only $6 million for air expulsions, a figure deemed insufficient given Panama's willingness to help manage migration. Critics argue that the current administration's policies have inadvertently exacerbated the migration crisis, with record numbers of migrants passing through the Darién Gap. Historically, fewer than 20,000 economic migrants traversed the Colombia-Panama route annually before the Biden-Harris administration. However, this number skyrocketed to 250,000 in 2022, with projections indicating that 800,000 could make the journey by the end of 2024.