Panama’s national immigration agency released a statement saying the government had tightened immigration controls.
In the statement, they say that the country has implemented immigration measures since October 2 last year “to make it more difficult for people to enter Panama for purposes other than tourism.”
As they explain, these travelers seek to use their income as “supposed tourists with a different purpose, often related to the intention of irregular migration or to activities not covered or regulated by the law.”
In this way, Migration Panama assures that the measure aims to prevent the entry of passengers who may be victims of organized crime networks, especially those dedicated to illegal migrant smuggling and human trafficking.
In this sense, they announced that Operation Oasis was recently carried out, which dismantled a secret prostitution network made up mainly of women who remained in the country with the status of tourists.
“The measures do not apply to executives, investors or hikers or people entering the country in general for tourism purposes,” the statement released said.
Last September, the government announced that travelers would be required to present US$1,000.00 as proof of solvency at entry points in Panama. In addition, visitors are only allowed to stay in the country for 15 days.
PANAMA MIGRATION MEASURES
The announcement by the National Immigration Service of Panama was widely commented on on social networks.
One lawyer said that “the problem with these regulations is that they leave everything to the discretion of the officer on duty. This lends itself to acting on the basis of prejudice.”
The majority believed that the real problem lay in Darién. “There is definitely a big business there, that’s why they don’t close the route and now we add the 12 million they are asking to fix the jungle”; “Money Gram and they are escorted by officers…it’s a great deal,” two people wrote.
Official data from the Panamanian government suggests that more than 360,000 people have crossed the jungle in 2023.