The Biden administration’s Department of Homeland Security recently announced an agreement with the Panamanian government to help close the Darien Gap, a route used by illegal migrants heading north to the U.S. More than 520,000 people took this route in 2023.
July 1 press releaseThe Department of Homeland Security outlined “a new foreign assistance program funded by the U.S. Department of State to address illegal immigration in the region.”
“The program will assist the Panamanian government in expelling foreigners who have no legal basis to be in Panama. This assistance aims to reduce the unprecedented illegal migration through the Darien region, where more than 520,000 migrants passed in 2023,” the press release stated.
As part of the new agreement, the Biden administration will use taxpayer funds to Pay for the airfare To deport individuals who have entered Panama illegally to their countries of origin.
a CBS News According to reports, the federal government plans to send a team of US immigration and asylum agents to Panama to help local authorities with screening and deporting illegal immigrants. US officials will not be directly involved in deporting illegal immigrants from Panama, but they will provide training, the report said.
“The new arrangement between the United States and Panama advances cooperation on migration management, including supporting safe and effective Panamanian deportation operations, including protective custody screening. The removal flight program is part of a comprehensive regional approach to addressing irregular migration. Due to its unique mission set, DHS will support training and capacity building to strengthen and institutionalize a safe and humane deportation process in Panama,” a DHS press release stated.
Jose Raul Mulino takes the oath of office President of Panama President Trump said Monday that he would do everything in his power to crack down on illegal immigration.
“We cannot allow thousands of people to enter Panama illegally, with the support of international organizations involved in drug and human trafficking,” Mulino said. “We understand that there are deep-rooted reasons for migration, but each country must solve its own problems.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has long Strain on resources Illegal immigration is on the rise.
Acting Commissioner of CBP Troy A. Miller stated “The level of encounters currently being experienced on the southwest border poses significant challenges for CBP officers,” it said in December.
Former Border Patrol chief Rodney Scott New York Post The Biden administration should have implemented the agreement with Panama long ago, he said, calling the region a “natural chokepoint where law enforcement can disrupt criminal activity with far fewer resources.”
“But before we overestimate the current administration, we should remember that just a few months ago they were deliberately making it easier for migrants to cross the Darien Gap and reach the United States,” Scott said. “So one might ask why they’ve suddenly changed their mind. Perhaps it’s because this is an election year.”
“Millions of people have crossed into the United States illegally under this administration, so why are they doing this now?” Chris Klemm, a former Yuma Sector Border Patrol chief, told the Post.
“In addition to these efforts to protect border communities and the American people, we urge the president to also address the physical security of our border,” Klem added.
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