Panamanian authorities arrested 44 migrants after a fight broke out early Saturday at a shelter, leading to the destruction of 10 modular shelter units and vehicles, according to official statements.
An altercation ensued between two female migrants over a tent in the San Vicente temporary immigration reception station, according to a statement by Panama’s Security Ministry.
The partners of both migrants reportedly intervened in the incident, triggering a “fight” between the different groups, according to the statement. Panama’s National Border Service, SENAFRONT, reportedly attempted to restore order, but were challenged by approximately 250 migrants, requiring reinfor” the statement noted.
The shelter sustained “serious damage,” according to the statement.
“Irregular migrants caused serious damage to the San Vicente shelter, where they destroyed official and civilian vehicles, at least 10 modular units set on fire, as well as the modular unit of MIGRATION and SENAFRONT units in the operations center of said station,” the MP tweeted. Pictures appearing to show burning and burnt-out modular trailers and an official pickup truck with deflated tires accompanied the post.
“So far, some 44 irregular migrants who participated in these acts of vandalism have been identified and detained and will be investigated and prosecuted before the public ministry for damage to state property,” the MP statement noted.
Migrantes irregulares causan afectaciones graves en el albergue de San Vicente, donde destruyeron vehículos oficiales y civiles, al menos 10 modulares incendiados, así como el modular de unidades de MIGRACIÓN y SENAFRONT en el centro de operaciones de dicha estación. pic.twitter.com/DA54UmFWyd
— Migración Panamá (@migracionpanama) March 2, 2024
The authorities did not report any casualties in the statement. (RELATED: Illegal Immigrant Charged With Murder Of Toddler After Multiple Prior Arrests, ICE Spox Says)
The San Vicente shelter “was one of the most modern and dignified facilities,” with “basic services to provide humanitarian care to this population” and “the capacity to house about 500 people,” the MP said in the statement. The shelter is located in Darién Province, the MP added via Facebook.
Samira Gozaine, Director of Panama’s National Migration Service, said the vandalism resulted in over $800,000 in losses.
Más de 800 mil dólares en pérdidas, fue el resultado de los daños ocasionados por los migrantes irregulares que vandalizaron el Centro de Recepción de San Vicente en Metetí Darién, la madrugada de este 2 de marzo, informa la DG del SNM, Samira Gozaine. pic.twitter.com/12VxEuRb9g
— Migración Panamá (@migracionpanama) March 2, 2024
Almost 250,000 illegal migrants crossed the approximately 60-mile Darién gap, which runs through 100,000 square-miles of difficult terrain astride southern Panama and northern Colombia, in 2022 in their northward march to the U.S., according to Human Rights Watch . By contrast, more than 130,000 migrants crossed in 2021, and fewer than 11,000 per year on average reportedly crossed between 2010 and 2020, according to the organization.
By July 2023, the number of crossings surpassed 250,000, according to the organization.
More than 520,000 migrants crossed the Gap by the end of 2023, a quarter of them being minors, Reuters reported. Venezuelan economic migrants reportedly contributed to the spike, in addition to migrants from Ecuador, Haiti and China, among others.
Gozaine reportedly called the situation “a national security problem.”
