Panama installs barbed wire at Darién Gap amid migrant surge

Panama installed barbed wire along the Darién Gap to strengthen border security amid a surge of migrants heading to the U.S. The move follows an agreement with the U.S. to manage migration through the jungle corridor. Newly inaugurated President José Raúl Mulino is committed to closing this major pathway for migrants.

Despite the new barriers, many migrants continued on the journey. Recent videos and reports from smugglers indicate that traditional routes are still being used, with migrants finding ways to bypass the barriers, including crawling through tunnels under the fences.

The Panamanian government maintained one official crossing point where migrants must show identification. The Ministry of Public Security, which oversees the barriers, stated that these measures are part of a broader effort to manage migration flows and combat organized crime.

Critics, including Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro , argue that the new measures do not address the root causes of migration, like economic challenges. Petro warned that the barriers might lead migrants to take even more dangerous routes, increasing the risk of injury or death. He emphasized that true solutions require removing economic blockades and improving the economies of southern nations.

According to Panama's latest figures, more than 174,000 migrants crossed the Darién Gap in the first six months of 2024.

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