Panama will step up deportations of migrants entering the country through the Darien Forest on the border with Colombia to stem a record wave of migrants heading to the United States, the government announced Friday.
“We will intensify measures aimed at gradually increasing deportations and expulsions of migrants,” national migration director Samira Gozaine announced during a press conference.
The government also plans to strengthen security measures in border towns.
Since the start of the year, more than 348,000 migrants, mostly Venezuelans, have crossed the inhospitable Darien rainforest, far exceeding the record for all of 2022 of 248,000 migrants.
Since April, Panamanian authorities have expelled almost 500 people, Ms. Gozaine stressed, but assured that the government would use charter flights to intensify deportations.
“If 3,000 people enter (the country illegally), we would like to expel the 3,000, but that is impossible,” admitted Ms. Gozaine, however, ruling out mass expulsions.
In August, an average of 2,500 to 3,000 migrants from Colombia entered Panama every day.
This situation forced the government to set up several reception centers across the country with the support of international organizations.
The wave of migration continues despite the fact that the United States warned several months ago that it would not allow anyone entering Panama illegally to enter its territory.
Migrants from South America seeking to reach the United States through Central America cross Darien’s natural border, which is 166 miles long and covers 575,000 acres.
They make this journey despite the presence of dangerous wildlife, raging rivers and criminal organizations that rob them or demand payment to show them the way.
In 2022, at least 52 people have died in the inhospitable Darien Forest, according to authorities, who speculate the number of deaths could be even higher.