Frank Abrego, recently named Panama’s next public security minister, on Thursday outlined the first steps in the incoming government’s plan to crack down on U.S.-bound migrants passing through the dangerous Darien Gap jungle trail.
Closing the Darien Gap, a jungle trail shared by Panama and Colombia, was one of Panamanian President-elect José Raul Mulino’s major campaign promises. recently elected The 64-year-old conservative will take office on July 1 for a five-year term.
Thursday, Mulino introduced If he takes office, Abrego will be among the majority of the men and women who will make up his Cabinet.In remarks given to reporters immediately after Mulino’s presentation, Abrego said: be familiar with Panama’s new government has opened “diplomatic contacts” to bridge the Darien gap and said it has begun conducting “research through international institutions,” a goal Abrego said was a priority for the Mulino government.
“We have already started a series of studies through international organizations. [Mulino] We have had some contacts at the diplomatic level and are preparing plans that will be announced at a later date,” Abrego said.
Next Minister of Security I felt stressed Bridging the Darien Ditch will not be an easy task, but it is still “not impossible,” he said, ruling out building a border wall that would stretch from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean.
Instead, Abrego said the government plans to set up checkpoints to detain and deport migrants.
“This idea of building a wall is impossible, but as the president has said, if we declare the border closed tomorrow, set up checkpoints where we can detain immigrants, and proceed with deportations and repatriations, the amount of immigration I think there will be fewer migrants at the border,” Abrego said.
According to the official statistics A record number of more than 520,000 migrants crossed the Darien Valley in 2023, double the 247,784 registered in 2022, the Panamanian government said. More than 125,000 migrants crossed the Darien Valley between January and April 17.
The majority of migrants who crossed the Darien Gap in 2023 were from Venezuela, Ecuador, Haiti, and China.
Last week, Mulino was officially proclaimed as President of Panama. repeated He said he intends to deport migrants who cross the Darien Valley into the United States and send them back to their countries of origin.
“I will work to end the journey of Darien, which has no reason to exist, as I have already begun to say. I reiterate that Panama and our Darien are not a transit route,” Mulino said. .
No, it’s our borders and the concept of closure [of the Darién Gap] The idea I have outlined also hints at philosophical concepts related to border closures. The rationale is to begin a repatriation process with international assistance and full respect for the human rights of all those there.
Before becoming Minister of Public Security, Mr. Abrego served as the first director of Panama’s Senafront Border Agency from its establishment from 2008 to 2016. expulsion A member of the armed front of the Marxist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) terrorist group.
Christian K. Caruso is a Venezuelan writer who chronicles life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter here.
