Panama Cracks Down on Rising Migrant Crossings Through Dangerous Darien Gap Jungle

Panama Implements Tough Measures to Combat Rising Migrant Crossings through the Darien Gap Jungle In response to an unprecedented surge in migrant crossings through the treacherous Darien Gap, Panama has announced new measures to crack down on migrants and asylum seekers entering the country.

The Darien Gap, a strip of thick jungle connecting Panama and Colombia, was once considered impassable but has now become a dangerous route for those seeking to reach North America. Panamanian authorities revealed their plans to increase deportations, erect new installations in border areas, and tighten requirements for foreigners seeking short-term stays.

The National Immigration Authority Director, Samira Gozaine, emphasized the need to increase deportations to have a significant impact. President Laurentino Cortizo has authorized the use of charter planes to facilitate the planned increase in deportation flights.

The government agency will also collaborate with the security ministry to double the deportation of individuals with criminal records. Additionally, Panama will decrease the maximum tourist stay from 90 days to 15 days and require visitors to demonstrate having at least $1,000 in funds, up from $500, although these requirements will not apply to all nationalities.

The measures come as the number of people navigating the Darien Gap has already broken previous records. Official data shows that more than 350,000 people have crossed the treacherous terrain so far in 2023, surpassing the previous record of 250,000 in 2022. The United Nations expects this year's total to reach 400,000, an unprecedented level.

The journey through the Darien Gap is plagued with violence, with criminal organizations and armed groups controlling the area. Migrants and asylum seekers face threats from these criminal networks, as well as from the perilous terrain itself, characterized by steep mountains, rushing rivers, and tangled forests.

Despite efforts by the United States, Panama, and Colombia to end migration through the Darien Gap, people from countries like Haiti, Venezuela, and Afghanistan continue to risk their lives walking across the gap due to the lack of accessible legal pathways to their desired destinations.

Migrant rights groups argue that heightened immigration enforcement efforts push migrants and asylum seekers to embark on increasingly dangerous journeys to avoid authorities. Many of those making the journey north are fleeing violence or extreme poverty in their home countries.

Alarming statistics from the United Nations reveal that one in five individuals undertaking the Darien Gap crossing this year are children. Panama's new measures aim to contain the record-breaking flow of migrants passing through the Darien Gap.

In addition to increasing deportations, the country plans to bolster infrastructure in the jungle area and ramp up aerial patrols to catch smugglers of migrants, drugs, and weapons. Authorities also intend to build installations in border areas to register and separate migrants from local communities.

Furthermore, Panama will tighten requirements for some foreigners, reducing the maximum tourist stay to 15 days and increasing the proof of funds from $500 to $1,000, though these changes will not apply to all nationalities.

As Panama takes tougher measures to address the escalating migrant crisis, the focus remains on the urgent need to address the root causes of migration in the region, including poverty and political instability. The international community's collective effort together with Central American nations will be vital in finding sustainable solutions to alleviate the suffering of those forced to undertake perilous journeys in search of safety and a better life.