Panama’s new president vows to send back migrants passing through perilous Darien jungle
The new president-elect of Panama, José Raul Mulino, pledged, Thursday, May 9, to return migrants who cross the Darien jungle from neighboring Colombia to try to reach the United States. This region, the crossing of which is perilous, is the only land crossing point between South America and Central America.
“We will launch, with international assistance, a process of repatriation, while respecting human rights, of all the people found there”declared José Raul Mulino, elected Sunday at the head of this pivotal state on the migratory route.
On April 16, he promised to “close” to migrants the Darien jungle, which extends over 575,000 hectares and 266 km long on the border between Panama and Colombia. More than 520,000 people, the majority Venezuelans, crossed this inhospitable region in 2023, risking their lives. There were more than 110,000 in the first quarter of 2024, according to official statistics.
On May 7, the head of American diplomacy Antony Blinken called for sanctioning those who facilitate “illegal migration”during a regional conference in Guatemala on migration.
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