According to data from Panama's migration agency, 520,000 migrants made the dangerous journey from Latin America to the United States in 2023, mostly from Venezuela, Ecuador and Haiti. Latin America is understood to be the region of the Americas that speaks Spanish and Portuguese.
There is also a large influx of people from China and India who are transiting to Latin American countries before heading to the U.S. This is partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns that have slowed the economy and because it has become more difficult for citizens of these countries to obtain visas to enter the U.S.
Migrants heading to the US wait at the Migrant Reception Station in Lajas Blancas, Darien province, Panama. Photo: Reuters
About 25% of the migrants are minors, said Samira Gozaine, the head of the agency. "This is a national security issue. Unfortunately, we don't have a quick solution to this problem."
Since Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo took office in 2019, the number of migrants transiting the Darien Gap area has skyrocketed, prompting the country's government to call for international aid.
The situation is partly due to the growing exodus of Venezuelans due to the country's economic downturn and social unrest. According to the United Nations, more than 7 million Venezuelans have left their country in recent years.
The Darien Gap is a dangerous area. Those who cross it face violence, sexual abuse, disease and human trafficking. In September, Reuters reported that migrants from Africa and elsewhere were flying to Nicaragua to avoid the dangers of the Darien Gap.
Earlier in April, the United States, Colombia and Panama announced a joint agreement to address the migration issue. Accordingly, the parties affirmed that they would create new legal and flexible pathways for tens of thousands of migrants and refugees, including investment efforts to reduce poverty and create jobs for communities on the Colombia-Panama border.
Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters)
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