US and Panama Sign Deal to Curb Migration Through Darien Gap

The United States and Panama have signed an agreement to significantly curb the flow of migrants traveling through the Darien Gap which is a dangerous jungle between Colombia and Panama. The Darien Gap is the only land route to the US from South America. The announcement came on Monday, coinciding with the inauguration of Panama’s new President, Jose Raul Mulino.

During his first speech as president, Mulino highlighted the severe humanitarian and environmental crisis caused by the massive influx of migrants through the Darien jungle, “I won’t allow Panama to be an open path for thousands of people who enter our country illegally, supported by an international organization related to drug trafficking and human trafficking,” DW reported.

Despite its dangerous nature, the Darien Gap has become a preferred pathway for hundreds of thousands of migrants travelling to the US borders. DW reported that “Last year, a record 520,000 migrants, including thousands of children, traversed the perilous corridor by foot. More than 190,000 people have crossed so far in 2024, with most migrants hailing from Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, and China. The route grew in popularity in recent years as smugglers made it an affordable pathway for hundreds of thousands of people.”

The agreement, signed by US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, includes provisions for the US to cover the costs of repatriating migrants who enter Panama illegally.