Migrant Crossings Through Panama’s Darien Gap Decrease by 35% in 2024, According to Reuters

By Elida Moreno

METETI, Panama (Reuters) – Migrant crossings through the perilous Darien Gap, which links Panama to Colombia, have decreased by over a third in the first nine months of this year, according to a Panamanian border official. The decline has been attributed to enhanced security measures implemented by the new administration.

From January to September 25, a total of 259,712 migrants arrived in Panama via the Darien, marking a 35% drop compared to the same timeframe last year, as reported by Alexis de Gracia, head of the National Border Service’s eastern brigade.

Panamanian officials credit the reduction to stricter security initiatives introduced by President Jose Raul Mulino, who took office on July 1. These efforts have included the closure of certain routes through the jungle and an increase in deportations, supported by the United States.

This report comes almost four months after U.S. President Joe Biden enacted a comprehensive asylum ban for migrants attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally.

Panama has emerged as a transit point for countless migrants, many of whom aim to reach the United States. In the previous year, a record 520,000 migrants, the majority of whom were Venezuelans, traversed the Darien in search of improved opportunities to the north.

In July, the first month of Mulino’s presidency, 20,519 migrants crossed the Darien, reflecting a 34% decrease from June, and less than half of the number compared to the same month last year. August saw a 19% reduction in crossings from July, and five times fewer than in August of the prior year.

Some analysts are doubtful that the government’s measures will be effective in the long term without addressing the root causes of migration. There are concerns that these efforts could also make journeys more perilous for migrants.

Additionally, De Gracia noted that the increased security might lead migrants to seek alternative routes from Colombia through the Caribbean instead of through the Darien Gap.