US, Panama reach deal to shut down Darién Gap, launch deportation flights

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

PANAMA IS TAKING DECISIVE ACTION TO ADDRESS MIGRATION CHALLENGES IN THE AMERICAS. NEWLY INAUGURATED PRESIDENT JOSÉ RAÚL MULINO HAS COMMITTED TO CURBING THE FLOW OF MIGRANTS THROUGH THE DARIÉN GAP, A PERILOUS JUNGLE CORRIDOR LINKING SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA, IT’S BECOME A KEY ROUTE FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MIGRANTS HEADING TO THE U.S.

IN A LANDMARK MOVE, MULINO’S ADMINISTRATION SIGNED A BILATERAL AGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES.

PANAMA WILL INCREASE ITS BORDER SECURITY AND SHUT DOWN THE ROUTE. IN EXCHANGE, THE U.S. WILL FINANCE THE REPATRIATION OF MIGRANTS ENTERING PANAMA ILLEGALLY. AT HIS INAUGURATION MULINO SAID:

JOSÉ RAÚL MULINO
PRESIDENT, PANAMA
“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.”

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

THE DARIÉN GAP IS NOTORIOUS FOR ITS DENSE JUNGLE AND LAWLESSNESS, MAKING IT A DANGEROUS YET POPULAR ROUTE FOR MIGRANTS. TO STRENGTHEN PANAMA’S ABILITY TO ENFORCE ITS IMMIGRATION LAWS, THE U.S. WILL PROVIDE LOGISTICAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING EQUIPPING AND TRAINING PANAMANIAN OFFICIALS.

FOR MIGRANTS SET TO BE REMOVED, THE US WILL COVER THE COST OF CHARTER OR COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS — THOUGH THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT SHARED THE PRICE TAG FOR THESE TICKETS.

THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS ITS FOCUS IS ON REDUCING ILLEGAL CROSSINGS WHILE RESPECTING THE RIGHTS AND SAFETY OF INDIVIDUALS, ADDING:

WHITE HOUSE
“By returning such individuals to their country of origin, we will help deter irregular migration in the region and at our Southern border, and halt the enrichment of malign smuggling networks that prey on vulnerable migrants.”

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

MORE THAN 170,000 MIGRANTS CROSSED THE DARIEN GAP IN THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, ACCORDING TO PANAMA’S MIGRATION AGENCY. THIS FIGURE IS 2% HIGHER THAN THE NEARLY 167,000 WHO MADE THE SAME JOURNEY LAST YEAR, INDICATING THAT 2024 COULD ONCE AGAIN SET NEW RECORDS.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.

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