More Venezuelans are expected to arrive due to the uncertainty generated by the non-recognition of the opposition’s claim that, with documents in hand, endorses Edmundo González Urrutia as President of the Republic.
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino has predicted an increase in the number of Venezuelan migrants crossing the Panamanian Darién jungle on their way to the United States, following the announcement of a controversial re-election of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela.
So far this year, more than 200,000 people have made this journey, two-thirds of whom were Venezuelan, according to official Panamanian figures referred to by the president of that country.
“I believe, and I hope I am wrong, that the flow of Venezuelans will increase for obvious reasons. We must also make the appropriate decisions to safeguard their lives, their integrity and to give expedited passage to people who want to emigrate to the United States,” said Mulino, who confirmed that he does not plan to repatriate anyone by force.
More pressure
With more than 60% of Venezuelans crossing the Darien, Panamanian journalist Adelita Coriat, consulted by THE AMERICAS DAILY, He said that “this new situation in Venezuela will put more pressure on the region, which is why a wave of migrants is expected to cross the jungle because they will want to leave their country due to the economic conditions and lack of opportunities that exist there (in Venezuela).
“Likewise, we will have to wait for the United States’ immigration policy regarding Venezuelans,” he said, because there are several programs for families to arrive in the United States legally and safely.
As to whether migration has been slowed since the agreement between Panama and the United States was signed, the journalist also researcherstated that The authorities have reported a decrease, “but in my opinion the results of this agreement cannot yet be scientifically measured. Perhaps the decrease noted during the month of July was due to expectations for the results of the elections in Venezuela, but it is difficult to determine with certainty whether the decrease was due to the memorandum of understanding between Panama and the United States.
The agreement
Coriat explained that the agreement signed between the United States and Panama fundamentally seeks to prevent people with criminal records from reaching the United States.
Following this agreement, a checkpoint was established so that before the migrants continue on their way and join the caravans in Central American countries, heading to USA, the criminal history of each has already been verified. Once at the southern border, the US will determine whether or not asylum is granted, after enforcing the new immigration policies.
Between 2010 and 2014, authorities recorded an average of about 2,400 crossings per year through the Darien, a period that did not constitute a major problem for Panama.
The first real upturn took place in 2015 and 2016, when around 30,000 arrivals were recorded annually. After a temporary decline, the figure has almost doubled annually since 2021 and 2023.
The journalist recalled The star that in 2023 520,000 people crossed the Darien junglea figure that was accompanied by complaints from organized crime, which entered this business in response to the needs of a vulnerable population, easy prey to human trafficking crimes and rapes attributed to the Clan del Golfo.
Coriat also pointed out that Deportations or expulsions have been carried out in Panama since the administration of President Laurentino Cortizoonly independently, without help from the US as it is now.
“The goal is to have a more exhaustive record of those who enter and continue on to the United States. To do so, the director of the National Border Service (SENAFROT), Jorge Gobea, with the help of the United States, will triple the number of biometric recognition equipment installed in temporary migrant reception centers, to speed up the identification task,” he said.
As part of the agreement, tours to airports have been carried out and places where those who are deported, expelled or repatriated to their countries of origin may remain.
Order
“What Panama has tried to do is to put some order “Regarding the route that migrants take to reach the first indigenous villages within Panamanian territory,” the journalist said.
In this regard, he pointed out that the implementation of the humanitarian corridor attempts to protect the passage of migrants and prevent them from being raped, robbed or extorted by organized (and not so organized) crime along the way.
Furthermore, Coriat believes that An important point is to install a binational border checkpoint with Colombia because it does not exist.
“Let us remember that both countries are divided by a dense jungle, completely virgin until a few years ago, which has now been penetrated by several fronts for the crossing of migrants. What Panama is trying to do is to establish a binational position, in which SENAFRONT and the Colombian counterpart are present.to be able to exchange information, in addition to having more control over who leaves Colombia and who enters Panama. Something that until now has been attempted through diplomatic channels with little success,” he said.
Most citizens who enter through Darien do so illegally, some without documentation, so the Panamanian government must determine who is eligible to be expelled or deported to their country of origin.
In addition, Adelita Coriat indicated that, for now, Americans will only finance the expenses for deportations and expulsions, but not voluntary repatriationsYes, as was initially stated. The information initially disseminated referred to voluntary repatriations, which seemed an unviable alternative after a person had crossed the Darien jungle, one of the most dangerous routes to the north.
The authorities have established a humanitarian corridor through Acandí or Capurganá -Bajo Chiquito-, a transit station in Lajas Blancas, as a passage to avoid the four routes used by organized crime. In this way, They assure that they will have control over the route and that there will be surveillance and inspection units at the entrance.
(email protected)
Source: INTERVIEW WITH JOURNALIST ADELITA CORIAT / LA ESTRELLA / LAS AMÉRICAS NEWSPAPER