On July 1, just hours after being inaugurated, Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino signed a significant agreement with the United States aimed at addressing irregular migration through the Darien Gap. The move underscores how, in contrast to his predecessor, former President Lorentino Cortizo, Mulino is confronting the migration crisis in Panama with a hard-line approach. The shift has sparked debates on the approach’s effectiveness, humanitarian implications and effects on regional stability, with implications for Panama’s relationship with the U.S. and regional neighbors.
The Darien Gap, a treacherous jungle that straddles Panama’s border with Colombia, has long been a key route for irregular migration from South America to the U.S. southern border. But recent years have seen an alarming escalation of crossings due to heightened instability and economic hardship in the region. In 2023, the number of irregular entries into Panama through the Darien Gap exceeded half a million, more than double the amount in 2022. Venezuelans make up a staggering 67 percent of those crossing the jungle.
The situation in the Darien Gap presents significant challenges for Panama. Human Rights Watch has reported severe human rights violations along the route that authorities have struggled to prevent. A Pan American Health Organization report found that, since 2021, the vulnerability of migrants—including those with disabilities, women, children and those without resources—has increased, heightening the risk of robbery. Doctors Without Borders has also reported an increase in attacks and “brutality” against migrants in the Darien Gap, including unprecedented levels of extreme violence and sexual assault.