2024-07-05 02:19:08
The new president of PanamaJosé Raúl Mulino, promised to close the passage of Darien to prevent their country from continuing to serve as a transit point for migrants seeking to reach the United States after crossing several borders.
The Panamanian president made this statement when he took office last Monday, July 1.
In this regard, he considered that the Darien jungle cannot continue to be the passage used by those people who seek a better future far from their countries of origin, but do so through irregular migration.
“We cannot continue to finance the economic cost of illegal migration (…) Panama will no longer be a transit country for illegal immigrants”said the President of Panama during his speech.
The politician also said that he will seek solutions with the countries involved in this situation, especially with the United States, since this is the final destination of the migrants who cross the Darien jungle.
“I will not allow Panama to be an open road for thousands of people,” he added.
It is important to mention that, during the year 2023, it was reported that at least half a million people crossed the Darien jungle heading to the United States.
Meanwhile, so far this year, more than 200,000 people, mostly Venezuelans, have passed through the Darien Gap, where criminal gangs operate, kidnapping, robbing and raping migrants.
In the case of Cubans, it has been reported that more than 400 have passed through this step so far in 2024, according to figures from Migración Panamá.
However, this week, the Panamanian government signed an agreement with the US to repatriate migrants.
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Cubans Around the World Editorial Team