The National Migration Service of Panama reported that the number of irregular migrants crossing the Darién jungle so far this year has decreased by 96%, reaching 2,637 people compared to 72,294 the previous year. This represents a significant reduction in the entry of illegal migrants through this natural border between Panama and Colombia.
In a statement, the SNM highlighted that 25 Colombian citizens were deported to Medellín, Colombia, of which 22 were subjected to administrative sanctions and 3 were expelled for illegal possession of firearms, terrorism, and money laundering. These actions are part of an agreement between Panama and the United States to repatriate irregular migrants, financing the return flights.
Since the signing of this agreement, more than 40 flights have been made with deported or expelled migrants, contributing to the reduction of migratory traffic through this route. The Panamanian government attributes this decrease to measures such as closing roads in the jungle to establish a single 'humanitarian corridor', imposing fines for irregular entry into the country, adverse weather conditions during the last rainy season, and the deportation flight program financed by the United States.
Despite 2021 closing with 300,549 migrants arriving in Panama through the Darién, this figure represented a 41% decrease from the previous year. The restrictive immigration policy implemented by the Donald Trump administration in the United States has contributed to an additional decrease in the flow of migrants northward, generating a phenomenon known as 'reverse flow'.
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino noted that there has currently been an increase in migratory flow from south to north, with more than 2,000 people entering Panama this February from the border with Costa Rica. This trend contrasts with the significant decrease in the number of migrants crossing the Darién on their way to the United States.
