The president of Panama, Jose Raul Mulinopromised this Monday not to allow his country to serve more than “Traffic” for migrants through the jungle Darienduring his inauguration speech.
“We cannot continue to finance the economic cost of illegal migration (…). Panama will no longer be a transit country for illegal immigrants“, he said referring to the jungle bordering Colombiawhere half a million people crossed in 2023 on their way to U.S.
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Mulino stated that this number of migrants “shiver” and said he will seek solutions with “the countries involved, especially with the United States, which is the final destination of the migrants”.
“I will not allow Panama to be an open road for thousands of people”, insisted the 65-year-old right-wing lawyer, who will govern the Central American country until 2029.
Mulino met on Sunday with the United States Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkaswith whom he will sign an agreement to repatriate migrants on Monday afternoon.
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The Colombian President Gustavo Pedrowho, like Mayorkas, attended the inauguration, addressed the immigration crisis with Mulino on Monday morning, according to an official report.
So far this year, more than 200,000 people, the vast majority of them Venezuelans, have passed through the inhospitable Darien Plugwhere criminal gangs operate that kidnap, rob and rape migrants. Many die in this inhospitable jungle.
Source: Elcomercio
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