Panama's President-Elect Vows to Shut Down Darién Gap Migrant Route

Newly elected president, José Raúl Mulino, Panama's newly elected president, has pledged to close the notorious Darién Gap, a key transit route used by over half a million migrants in the past year to reach the United States. Mulino, who won the May 2024 election with 34% of the vote, announced his plan to shut down the jungle passage just days before taking office.

Why this matters: The closure of the Darién Gap could have significant implications for U.S. immigration policy and the ongoing debate about border control. Additionally, the success or failure of Mulino's deportation plan could set a precedent for other countries dealing with large migrant flows.

The Darién Gap, a treacherous stretch of jungle connecting Colombia to Panama, has become a popular path for migrants from South America, the Caribbean, and as far as Africa seeking to enter the U.S. An estimated 500,000 people, including 113,000 children, crossed the gap in 2023 alone. The route is rife with dangers, from natural hazards to exploitation by criminal organizations.

In a departure from Panama's current practice of swiftly busing migrants across its territory to continue their northward journey, Mulino has vowed to crack down on the flow. "Panama and our Darien [Gap] are not a transit route. It is our border," he declared. The president-elect plans to implement an immediate deportation program, asserting that "when we start to deport people here in an immediate deportation plan, the interest for sneaking through Panama will decrease... I assure you they are going to say that going through Panama is not attractive because they are deporting you."

However, some experts have expressed skepticism about the feasibility and effectiveness of Mulino's plan. Adam Isacson of the Washington Office on Latin America pointed out that Panama lacks the capacity to "massively deport" the sheer volume of migrants, noting that even a daily plane could only repatriate around 10% of the current flow of 1,000 to 1,200 people per day.

The U.S. has been grappling with a surge of migrants at its southern border, putting pressure on countries like Mexico to enforce movement restrictions and prevent migrants from reaching American soil. Mulino's promise to shut down the Darién Gap could have significant implications for U.S. immigration policy, potentially working in tandem with a new administration in Washington D.C. come January 2025.

As Mulino prepares to take office, all eyes will be on his administration's efforts to close the Darién Gap and stem the flow of migrants. The success or failure of his deportation plan could have far-reaching consequences for Panama, the region, and the ongoing immigration debate in the United States.

Key Takeaways

• Newly elected Panama President José Raúl Mulino vows to shut down Darién Gap, a key migrant route to the US.
• Over 500,000 migrants, including 113,000 children, crossed the gap in 2023, facing dangers and exploitation.
• Mulino plans to implement an immediate deportation program to deter migrants from using the route.
• Experts question the feasibility of the plan, citing Panama's lack of capacity to "massively deport" migrants.
• The success or failure of Mulino's plan could impact US immigration policy and set a precedent for other countries.