Panama's immigration authorities said this week that the number of illegal immigrants bound for the United States passing through the dangerous Darien Gap jungle trail was halved during November.
According to latest According to statistics released by Panamanian authorities, 11,144 migrants passed through the Darien Valley in November, down 51.37 percent from 22,914 in October. November was the month with the lowest number of migrants crossing jungle trails so far in 2024.
The Darien Canyon is a 30-mile-wide, 160-mile-long treacherous jungle trail that shares Panama and Colombia and is the only land bridge between South and Central America. In recent years, an increasing number of Venezuelans and nationals from other South American, African and Asian countries fleeing the socialist Maduro regime have been making their way to the U.S. southern border through the Darien Gap.
panama authorities recorded During the first few months of 2024, huge numbers of illegal Chinese immigrants bound for the United States passed through the jungle trails. Many of the Chinese immigrants reportedly used the now-dismantled “services.”VIP” The route provider offered a “safer” and faster route through jungle trails.
As of November, Venezuelans continued to lead the number of Darien migrants crossing into the United States, accounting for approximately 80% of all registered crossers in November, along with Colombians, Ecuadorians, Chinese, and Haitians. People follow.
Adam Isacson, director of defense oversight at the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA). said Newsweek reported that the 2024 US presidential election and President-elect Donald Trump's victory may have influenced migrants to refrain from traveling to the US.
“The election of a virulently anti-immigrant president in the United States on November 5 may also cause would-be immigrants to change their plans for now until they have better information about what awaits them.” Isakson said.
The government of Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, who took office in July, has enacted a series of policies to curb the flow of migrants through Panamanian territory. Since then, the number of migrants crossing the Darien Gap has fallen significantly compared to the number recorded in the first half of 2024 under the government of former centre-left President Laurentino Cortizo.
Panama recorded a surge with more than 25,000 migrants passing through its territory. september, The main culprits are Venezuelans who fled the country after socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro's fraudulent presidential election on July 28.
mulino reportedly On Thursday morning, Panama told local media that 2,087 migrants had crossed the Darien Valley so far in the first few days of December, saying that as of early December, Panama had seen a 41 percent decrease in the number of migrants crossing its territory. Explained. compared to the same period in 2023.
Panama's Immigration Department has released the details. Website By early December, the total number of migrants crossing the country was recorded at 206,368, down from 505,809 migrants registered in early December 2023.
Mulino also told local media that 36 deportation flights have been carried out so far as part of the agreement his administration signed with the United States this year. However, after President Maduro took control of Venezuela, Panama lamented that it cannot currently deport Venezuelan migrants back to its own country. cut ties With Panama and other countries that questioned the dictator's sham elections.
At the time of debut speech Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in September, Mulino appealed to the world to support joint international efforts to curb the flow of migrants through his country, describing it as an “incalculable global problem.” Mulino further emphasized that “America's new border” is now in place in Panama due to the high flow of U.S.-bound migrants passing through Panama.
Christian K. Caruso is a Venezuelan writer who chronicles life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter here.
