On Wednesday, the United States announced a $3 million partnership with Panama, led by President José Raul Mulino, aimed at addressing the environmental issues stemming from waste left by many illegal immigrants who have traveled through the hazardous Darien Gap jungle trail in recent years.
According to a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Panama, this funding will support initiatives in collaboration with officials from the Panamanian Ministry of the Environment and local communities to clean up the extensive litter left by migrants aiming to reach the U.S. through the southern border, partly influenced by former President Joe Biden’s open border policies.
The cleanup project was announced by U.S. Ambassador Kevin Marino Cabrera alongside President Mulino during a graduation ceremony for new staff at Panama’s Senafront Border Agency and the National Migration Agency in Meteti, Darien. President Mulino mentioned that the operation will provide jobs for 150 local residents.
“In light of the severe repercussions from the surge of illegal immigration linked to the previous administration’s border policies, we’re proud to announce this $3 million partnership with Panama’s Ministry of the Environment for restoration of the Darien River,” Ambassador Cabrera stated. He emphasized that, thanks to the leadership of President Trump and President Mulino, the region is now less susceptible to drug cartels and illegal immigration.
“This effort goes beyond just addressing the damage of illegal immigration,” he continued. “It showcases the strong cooperation between the U.S. and Panama under Presidents Trump and Mulino, reaffirming our commitment to border security, dismantling cartels, and fostering a safer, more prosperous future for all.” He underscored President Trump’s view that a country without borders cannot truly be a nation.
“I want to sincerely thank the government and the ambassador for their support,” President Mulino expressed.
The Darien Gap is a perilous 30-mile-wide and 160-mile-long jungle stretch that links Panama and Colombia, acting as the only land connection between South and Central America. In recent years, hundreds of thousands of migrants, primarily Venezuelans escaping their country’s regime, along with individuals from various South American, African, and Asian nations, have traversed this treacherous route to reach the U.S. border. Panamanian authorities have reported a notable rise in arrivals from China, some of whom utilized less risky routes to bypass the more dangerous areas, although local law enforcement has intervened in some instances. Reports estimate that around 1.2 million migrants have gone through the Darien Gap from 2021 to 2024.
Since President Mulino took office in July 2024 and implemented measures to limit the influx of illegal immigrants, the number of people crossing the Darien Gap has significantly declined over the past two years. Official data from the Panama Immigration Department indicates that over 302,000 arrivals were recorded. However, only 135 crossings occurred in the first four months of 2026.
The migrants left behind an enormous amount of waste, including trash, and there have even been instances where authorities discovered the bodies of migrants who perished during their journey, often irretrievable due to the area’s tricky terrain.
A report from September indicated that the litter had adversely affected the water quality of the nearby Esmeraldas River, a crucial water source for the Embera indigenous community. Last year, community members expressed health concerns linked to the river’s water, which they had stopped using for bathing. Additionally, local residents reported an unpleasant odor in the fish, attributed to gasoline from boats transporting migrants. Estimates suggest that around 2.5 tons of trash litter the trails through the jungle.
“Those crossing were not just migrants; they included criminal cartels and organizations capitalizing on human suffering,” Ambassador Cabrera commented. He noted that Panama has been a key ally in drug seizures for five consecutive years, reinforcing the collaboration due to the negative impacts of drugs on both nations and the region.
