Number of migrants crossing Panama's Darien Gap surpasses 400,000 to record high

The number of people crossing the dangerous Darien Gap between Panama and Colombia has reached a record high of 400,000 in the year up to September, according to official data. Despite efforts to curb the flow, migration to the United States has intensified. More than half of these migrants were children and babies, as revealed by Panama’s security ministry. In September alone, the number of crossings increased by a fifth in comparison to the previous month. The figure for the year so far, 402,300 migrants, is nearly double the total number for 2022. The United Nations had previously estimated that the total number of migrants for the year would be 400,000.

According to Panama’s security ministry, the majority of migrants crossing the perilous stretch of jungle are from Venezuela, while others originate from Ecuador, Haiti, and different countries. Panama announced measures earlier this month to curb the increase in migration, including the deportation of more individuals with criminal records and reducing the number of days some tourists are permitted to stay in the country. These steps are part of a two-month program launched in April by the United States, Panama, and Colombia to address undocumented immigration.

Costa Rica, which is another transit country for these migrants, declared a state of emergency earlier this week. President Rodrigo Chaves stated that he would visit the Darien Gap in early October in an attempt to manage the migrant crisis. In May, the United States implemented a policy to deter illegal crossings, including deporting migrants and imposing a five-year re-entry ban, as the Biden administration grappled with record-high migration. While the tougher measures initially led to a 70% decrease in border crossings, recently there has been a surge in the number of migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border, indicating that the early deterrent effect is diminishing.

Some African and Cuban migrants and asylum seekers en route to the United States have informed Reuters that they are flying into Nicaragua to avoid the dangers of the Darien Gap.

Reporting by Elida Moreno; Writing by Valentine Hilaire; editing by Miral Fahmy