Panama to start deporting migrants from Darien Gap within months
Panama is gearing up to launch deportation flights for migrants who have crossed the perilous Darien jungle, a passage notorious for its dangers and challenges, the country’s Chief of Migration, Roger Mojica, announced on Friday.
Under a recent agreement between Panama and the United States, the latter will finance these flights as part of efforts to manage the flow of migrants. Mojica revealed during a conference call, “We are establishing the needs, equipment, and requirements that Panama has to face in order to start the program, and we are in conversations with the United States. We estimate we should be able to start the process in two to three months.”
The initiative comes amidst a surge in migrants traversing the Darien Gap, a dense jungle connecting Central America to Colombia. Last year, a record half a million migrants made the treacherous journey in search of safety and better economic prospects abroad. This year alone, Panamanian authorities estimate that over 213,702 individuals have crossed, a significant portion of whom are children.
President Jose Raul Mulino, who took office recently, has vowed to tackle unlawful immigration and has initiated collaboration with the United States to secure the jungle passage more effectively. The Darien Gap has posed a humanitarian challenge as well as a security concern, with reports of violence and exploitation of migrants along the route.
The issue of migration has gained prominence in the United States, particularly in the lead-up to the elections, where Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump has advocated for stricter border controls and increased deportations.
Panama’s move to implement deportation flights underscores the growing international efforts to manage migration flows amid escalating political and humanitarian pressures.
