Panama criticizes Colombia for not helping stem record flow of migrants through Darien Gap

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Panama criticizes Colombia for not helping stem record flow of migrants through Darien Gap

Updated 11:44 PM EDT, August 6, 2023

PANAMA CITY (AP) — Panama’s top immigration official lashed out at Colombia on Sunday, saying it is not helping to slow the record flow of migrants through the dangerous jungle of the Darien Gap.

Immigration Service Director Samira Gozaine said that in recent days, between 2,600 and 2,800 migrants per day have been moving through the gap, which connects North and South America. In 2022, an average of about 700 migrants per day trekked through the roadless region.

In April, the United States, Panama and Colombia agreed to try to crack down on the smuggling rings that bring migrants through the gap.

But Gozaine said there has been a lack of information sharing and joint action on the part of Colombia.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/panama-colombia-migration-darien-gap-record-c93e1757cbc78c17134d7f1108a65e87

[Hugh_Lebowski]

1. I'd have never guessed that there's literally no road connecting

Central and South America, there's actually a 66 mile gap.

Interesting fact.

Apparently (per the Wiki) a significant part of 'why not' is hoof and mouth disease among cattle. Seems they still have it in South America, but it's been eradicated in Central/North America.

[getagrip_already]

2. Like everything in Central America.... it's complicated

Tied up in corruption, politics, and local rivalries as much as anything else.

The road could easily be built. It's mostly politics that is stopping it now. Not so much cattle, but people. It is stopping, or slowing, the flow of people to the us border from south America.

My wife is working with afghan refugees fleeing the taliban. Several fled to Brazil, but can't find steady employment so they made the difficult choice to try to apply for asylum at the us border (despite pleas to not make the attempt). Among other obstacles was the gap.

They made it as far as Mexico, where the Mexican police stole all their money and left them penniless. All the aid agency could offer them was airfare back to brazil where they have a visa; aid agencies cannot legally support someone illegally crossing borders (third hand story).

But there is quite an industry of smugglers and merchants along the way. There is profit in a restricted route. And I'm sure the police and politicians like the staus quo.