Number of refugees and asylum seekers passing through Darien Gap — the treacherous forest connecting South and North America — has declined by nearly 41 percent in the past year.
On Thursday, Panama's right-wing president, Jose Raul Mulino, announced the drop, calling it a success in the country's efforts to reduce irregular migration.
“We have managed to reduce the number of refugees passing through the Darien forest by 41 percent,” Raul Mulino told the Panamanian Congress in a speech.
“We work every day to ensure that illegal immigration does not reach (Panama City) or the rest of the country.”
Panama they faced problems to reduce irregular migration in recent years, when the number of migrants and asylum seekers heading north has risen dramatically.
In fiscal year 2023, the United States says it will “interact” with 2.48 million refugees and asylum seekers at its southern border with Mexico.
This was a new water mark in the US, and it led to a political debate, as immigration became a prominent feature in the 2024 general election.
For example, President-elect Donald Trump – the winner of the 2024 presidential race – has promised to “mass deportation” campaign after taking office on January 20.
Similarly, in Panama, 2023 broke records for refugees and asylum seekers traveling through the Darien Gap.
About 520,085 people passed through the dangerous forest, characterized by steep slopes, fast rivers and gangs.
But in 2024, Panama's immigration authorities saw a significant drop in the number of people who risked their lives in the jungle. About 302,203 crossed the Darien Gap last year.
The US also saw declining numbers along its southern border. In fiscal year 2024, US Customs and Border Protection recorded 2.14 million irregular “encounters” with immigrants and asylum seekers, a 14 percent decrease.
November alone saw the monthly deficit cross the most unsustainable mark in the four years of US President Joe Biden's term.
But the US has tried to curb illegal immigration in recent months. Last year, Biden established strict procedures reduce to obtain asylum for those who cross the US-Mexico border outside of official channels.
Penalties included a five-year ban from the US and impeachment.
Biden threatened again suspending asylum applications together if the daily number of irregular border crossings reaches 2,500 per day.
Critics warned these dimensions can break it international and US humanitarian law, by limiting the ability of asylum seekers to quickly flee persecution.
But proponents of the new policies said it was necessary to make migration more permanent.
The US has also pushed its allies in South and Central America to reduce foreign immigration to the north.
Panama and the US, for example, have signed agreement in July to “close the passage of migrants” through the Darien Gap, with the US providing funds for evacuation flights and other supplies.
At least 1,548 refugees and asylum seekers have returned home on US-backed flights from Panama.
The U.S. has also established “Safety Offices” in countries such as Costa Rica, Guatemala and Colombia to prevent would-be refugees and migrants from making the dangerous journey across the border.
Mulino revealed in December that at least 55 refugees and asylum seekers have died while driving through the Darien Gap in 2024, and about 180. children he was left behind.
Due to the irregularity of the distance, some bodies are not reported or found.
Critics say that efforts to end illegal migration often ignore the most important factors that motivate migrants and asylum seekers to act. dangerous journeys at first.
For example, last year, about 69 percent of the refugees and asylum seekers registered in the Darien Gap were from Venezuela.
There, human rights experts warn of government brutality, especially because of a competitive presidential race which resulted in 2,000 arrests and 23 deaths in post-election protests.
Venezuela has also experienced an economic crisis that has left many people without access to basic necessities such as food and medicine. About 7.7 million people have fled the country.