• UGI USER
  • May 12, 2024
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PANAMA MULLS CLOSING ITS ‘TRANSIT’ MIGRANT ROUTE

Why in the news?

  • President-elect José Raúl Mulino plans to close a migration route in Panama used by over 500,000 people last year, aiming to assert control over immigration.
source:TH

Issue:

  • Mulino emphasizes that Panama’s Darien region is not a transit route but a vital border area, signaling a shift in immigration policy.
  • The migration route through Panama has seen exponential growth due to organized crime in Colombia, offering an affordable but perilous land route to hundreds of thousands.
  • Visa restrictions imposed by countries like Mexico have prompted migrants to seek alternative routes through Panama to reach the U.S. border.
  • Despite the challenges, migrants have embarked on foot through the Colombian-Panamanian border, reducing the initial week-long journey to two or three days with local support services.
  • Mulino’s proposed policy change may have far-reaching implications for regional migration dynamics and U.S. border security.