Panama’s Mulino Is Cracking Down on Migration in the Darien Gap

On July 1, conscionable hours aft being inaugurated, Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino signed a important statement pinch nan United States aimed astatine addressing irregular migration done nan Darien Gap. The move underscores how, successful opposition to his predecessor, erstwhile President Lorentino Cortizo, Mulino is confronting nan migration situation successful Panama pinch a hard-line approach. The displacement has sparked debates connected nan approach’s effectiveness, humanitarian implications and effects connected location stability, pinch implications for Panama’s narration pinch nan U.S. and location neighbors.

The Darien Gap, a treacherous jungle that straddles Panama’s separator pinch Colombia, has agelong been a key route for irregular migration from South America to nan U.S. confederate border. But caller years person seen an alarming escalation of crossings owed to heightened instability and economical hardship successful nan region. In 2023, nan number of irregular entries into Panama done nan Darien Gap exceeded half a million, much than double nan magnitude successful 2022. Venezuelans make up a staggering 67 percent of those crossing nan jungle.

The business successful nan Darien Gap presents important challenges for Panama. Human Rights Watch has reported terrible quality authorities violations on nan way that authorities person struggled to prevent. A Pan American Health Organization study found that, since 2021, nan vulnerability of migrants—including those pinch disabilities, women, children and those without resources—has increased, heightening nan consequence of robbery. Doctors Without Borders has besides reported an summation successful attacks and “brutality” against migrants successful nan Darien Gap, including unprecedented levels of utmost unit and intersexual assault.