PANAMA CITY (Reuters) – More than 300,000 migrants crossed the Darien Gap into Panama in 2024, marking a 42% decrease from the previous year, according to Panama’s migration authorities speaking to Reuters on Thursday. The perilous Darien Gap serves as a passage connecting Colombia to Panama, and a rising number of migrants have been undertaking the challenging journey north to eventually reach the United States.
Since assuming office in July of last year, Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino has adopted a stricter stance on migration, implementing measures such as the installation of barbed wire fencing along sections of the Darien, imposing fines, and utilizing flights funded by the United States for the deportation of migrants. Officials from Panama’s National Migration Service informed Reuters that a total of 302,203 migrants crossed the Darien in 2024, representing a notable decline of 42% from the record 520,085 figure recorded in 2023. The officials noted that the majority, approximately 69%, of migrants in 2024 were of Venezuelan origin.
A significant portion of Venezuelan migrants have been driven to flee their homeland due to an extended period of economic turmoil in the once-prosperous South American nation, primarily reliant on oil production. President Mulino emphasized the government’s commitment to preventing illegal migration from reaching Panama City or other parts of the country during a recent address to lawmakers. Mulino further disclosed the deportation of 1,548 migrants through flights arranged under a bilateral arrangement with the United States.
Among the Venezuelan migrants who crossed the Darien last year, approximately 209,000 were permitted to proceed with their journey, as direct flights between Panama and Venezuela were suspended following Venezuela’s disputed July election. Analysts have cautioned that while Panama’s enforcement measures may serve to deter migrants, they may not effectively address the underlying factors prompting individuals to undertake such perilous journeys. Furthermore, there are concerns that these measures could potentially exacerbate the risks faced by migrants navigating their way through the challenging Darien Gap.
The situation at the Darien Gap underscores the complex and multifaceted challenges posed by irregular migration, requiring a comprehensive approach that addresses both immediate security concerns and the broader socioeconomic conditions driving migration flows. President Mulino’s administration continues to navigate these intricate issues as they seek to balance security imperatives with humanitarian considerations in handling the influx of migrants crossing through the Darien region.
(Reporting by Elida Moreno; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Rod Nickel)
