Panama’s next president has vowed to make big changes to ease the U.S. border crisis.
President-elect Jose Raul Mulino has vowed to close the critical migration gap through Panama, which was used by more than 500,000 migrants last year, signaling a shift in policy for the country as the U.S. continues to grapple with the crisis at its southern border. did.according to Report from Voice of America.
“Panama and our Darien [Gap] This is not a passing route. It’s our border,” Mulino was quoted as saying.
CNN’s Zakaria says Biden should “learn something from Trump” and adopt border policy and refugee reform.
Panama’s next president, Jose Raul Mulino, celebrates with his supporters after being declared the winner of the presidential election, according to preliminary election results, in Panama City, May 5, 2024. (Daniel Gonzalez/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Panama previously helped bus migrants cross the critical gap and allowed them to continue their journey north, a policy that could allow thousands to reach the U.S. border with Mexico. Became.
The changes come as the U.S. continues to put pressure on Mexico to help ease the crisis, helping to tighten movement restrictions within Mexican territory to prevent migrants from ultimately reaching the U.S. border. It happened while I was being asked to do something.
Although the Darien Gap is a dangerous route north toward the United States, it has become popular among immigrants in recent years as cartels and other organized crime groups intervene to make it an affordable option for those trying to reach the United States. This is the route.
Haitian migrants rest at the Darien Gap near Acandi, Colombia, on their way to Panama on their way to the United States, September 26, 2021. (Raul Arboleda/AFP via Getty Images)
Biden’s border policy is a product of planning, not incompetence: former Glacier secretary
Mulino, who won last week with 34% of the vote, said the new policies would make Panama a less attractive option for immigrants and criminal organizations.
“If we start deporting people with the immediate deportation plan, there will be less interest in sneaking through Panama,” Mulino said, according to Voice of America. “I assure you they will say it is not attractive to go through Panama because they will deport you.”
Nevertheless, some experts expressed skepticism that such a plan would significantly reduce immigration. Adam Isacson, an analyst with the nongovernmental organization’s Washington office on Latin America, said Panama does not have the capacity to “export on a large scale” thousands of immigrants.
Migrants, primarily from Ecuador, Haiti and Nigeria, are shown walking through Colombia’s Darien Canyon on November 20, 2022. (Yang Socheol/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“Flying planes every day would be very expensive, but we would only be able to repatriate about 10% of the volume (about 1,000 to 1,200 flights per day),” Isakson said. “The U.S. flies about 130 flights per month worldwide. “There are only a few flights in operation,” he said.
