The number of migrants and asylum seekers crossing the dangerous Darien Gap has decreased by nearly 41 percent in the past year, according to Panama’s President Jose Raul Mulino. Panama has been working to limit irregular migration, with a goal to prevent illegal migration from reaching Panama City and affecting the rest of the country. This reduction in migrants traveling through the Darien Gap comes after record highs in the previous year, with over 520,000 migrants passing through the perilous jungle in 2023. The decrease in migration numbers is seen as a success for Panama’s efforts to control irregular migration.
In the United States, the number of encounters with migrants and asylum seekers at the southern border with Mexico reached 2.48 million in fiscal year 2023, a new high-water mark that led to political backlash and immigration becoming a prominent issue in the 2024 general elections. President-elect Donald Trump, who won the presidential race, has pledged to pursue a “mass deportation” campaign upon taking office. However, in 2024, Panama and the US both experienced a drop in the number of individuals crossing the Darien Gap and the US southern border, respectively. US Customs and Border Protection documented 2.14 million irregular encounters, a 14 percent decrease, with November showing the lowest monthly total of irregular crossings during President Joe Biden’s term.
In response to the decreasing migration numbers, the US has implemented strict measures limiting asylum access to those who cross the US-Mexico border outside official channels, with penalties including a five-year ban and possible criminal prosecution. Biden has also threatened to suspend asylum petitions if the daily number of irregular border crossings reaches a certain threshold. Critics of the new policies argue that they could violate international and US humanitarian law by limiting the ability of asylum seekers to flee persecution urgently. However, supporters believe these measures are necessary to rein in irregular migration.
The US has been collaborating with its allies in South and Central America to limit irregular migration northwards. Panama and the US signed an agreement to close the passage of illegal migrants through the Darien Gap, with the US funding deportation flights and other logistics. Additionally, the US has established Safe Mobility Offices in countries like Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Colombia to dissuade migrants from making the dangerous journey to the border. Despite these efforts, the inhospitable terrain of the Darien Gap has led to the deaths of at least 55 migrants and asylum seekers in 2024, with approximately 180 children abandoned along the way. Critics argue that efforts to stop irregular migration often overlook the root causes that drive migrants to take such life-threatening trips, such as political unrest and economic turmoil.
The majority of migrants and asylum seekers documented in the Darien Gap are from Venezuela, where human rights experts warn of government abuses and economic hardship. Following a contested presidential race in Venezuela that led to protests and arrests, millions have fled the country in search of safety and stability. Despite efforts to curb irregular migration, the harsh realities in countries like Venezuela continue to push individuals to take dangerous journeys in search of a better life. Addressing the underlying causes of migration, such as political instability and economic hardships, is crucial in finding lasting solutions to the issue of irregular migration in the region.
