Panama to Offer Voluntary Repatriation for Migrants Crossing Darien Gap

Panama's President José Raúl Mulino stated that migrants entering Panama through the perilous Darien Gap will only be repatriated if they consent. This stance might lessen the impact of stricter immigration enforcement that Mulino had previously advocated. He emphasised that the issue primarily concerns the United States, not Panama.

Mulino, who assumed office on July 1, pledged to curb the increasing number of migrants entering from Colombia. He also secured an agreement for the US government to fund repatriation flights. However, he clarified that Panama's role is limited. "This is a United States problem that we are managing. People don't want to live here in Panama; they want to go to the United States," he said during his first weekly press conference.

Migration Statistics and Border Measures

In 2023, over 500,000 migrants crossed the Darien Gap, setting a new record. This year alone, more than 212,000 migrants have made the journey. The National Border Service reported that since Mulino took office, 11,363 migrants have crossed the border, which is about 9,000 fewer than during the same period last year.

Panama's border police have installed approximately three miles of barbed wire to block certain trails and direct migrants to a single reception point. Mulino explained that repatriation processes are governed by international agreements but did not elaborate on why Panama cannot deport migrants who enter illegally.

Challenges and Hopes for Change

Mulino urged migrants who survive the hazardous Darien crossing—a journey fraught with dangers such as rushing rivers, venomous snakes, bandits, and sexual assaults—to reconsider whether they want to continue or return home. He also expressed hope that Venezuela's presidential election on July 28 might reduce the number of Venezuelan migrants crossing the Darien.

"Practically all of Venezuela is walking through there every day," Mulino said. "If the elections in that country are carried out properly, respecting the popular will regardless of who wins, I'm sure that that number will go down."

Mulino highlighted that if migrants do not wish to return to their countries, they will proceed to the US. "I can't arrest them; we can't forcibly repatriate them," he stated. This approach underscores Panama's limited capacity in handling the migration crisis.

The president's remarks indicate a shift in Panama's immigration policy, focusing on managing rather than preventing migration. This stance reflects the complexities of international migration and the challenges faced by transit countries like Panama.

The situation remains fluid as Panama navigates its role in managing migration through its territory while balancing international agreements and humanitarian considerations.