Bad news for migrants who are planning to enter the US illegally.
Panama’s new president, Jose Raul Mulino, promised to “close” the Darien Gap, a swampy trail on the border of Colombia.
Mulino, who recently retired as security minister of the country, was a last-minute conservative candidate but has managed to outrun rivals by ten percent in their recent elections.
The newly-elected president also swore to fix Panama’s economy.
Mulino ran as a replacement for former President Ricardo Martinelli, who was banned from running for reelection after he was convicted of money laundering in 2023.
Mulino will begin his five-year term on July 1, replacing the leftist President Laurentino Cortizo.
Discussing his plan to close the Darien Gap, Mulino also ponders the possibility of building a wall to stop migration.
“The border of the United States, instead of being in Texas, moved to Panama,” said the new president.
“We’re going to close the Darién and we’re going to repatriate all these people,” said Mulino.
He emphasized the need to curb the surge of migrants and respond to the growing rate of crimes.
In 2023, more than 500,000 individuals risked their lives to cross the dangerous border. The number has skyrocketed exponentially from merely 24,000 in 2019.
According to Human Rights Watch, these illegals and asylum seekers are prone to sexual violence and abuse as they cross the Darien Gap.
With the Colombian side of the border controlled by the country’s largest drug cartel and Panama’s side led by lawless and armed bandits, crime and human trafficking businesses increased, and conditions worsened.
The newly-elected president promised to focus on sending back migrants and strengthening the relationship with the US and Colombia to resolve the migrant crisis comprehensively.
In a recent campaign rally, he also noted that he will seek support from President Donald Trump to fortify the wall he intends to construct, should the former president succeed in clinching reelection.
He also vowed to resolve economic woes and maintain order on the country’s borders.
“I am committed to ending this migratory crisis on our soil with respect for human rights and robust international cooperation,” he declared.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch warned that such a policy would only push these people to find even more dangerous paths.
However, there are safer and more legal routes to cross the US border without traversing a precarious path.
The human rights group reported that there are indications that the first few months of 2024 experienced a wave of people crossing the Gap.
“The number of people crossing the Darién Gap could be as high as 700,000 or even 800,000 this year,” remarked Human Rights Watch.
Sounds like he is going to do mor than our current Pres. is doing.