In recent months, the flow of migrants through Panama has decreased significantly and in January of this year, the national authorities registered an average of 140 travelers per day.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Erika Mouynes, highlighted that the actions that Panama led with the countries of the region have contributed to this decrease in migrants, who cross the border through Darién (border with Colombia) to continue their course towards the United States.
He recalled that in 2020 some 8,000 migrants crossed the Isthmian borders and that in 2021 the figure rose to 134,000.
“Faced with this situation, we launched an unprecedented diplomatic strategy and strengthened our security strategy and migration management,” Mouynes said.
“Today the numbers prove us right. Last August, when we called the ministers of relations of the continent, the peak of income to our country amounted to 2,400 migrants a day, today we have an average of 140 “, said the chancellor, who added that they will remain under evaluation of the situation.
For his part, the Minister of Security, Juan Pino, highlighted that currently in Panama they have 780 migrants in transit, specifying that 50% of this amount is in the province of Chiriquí, in the Los Planes shelter to continue the journey.
The head of Security reported that in January 2022 a total of 4,702 migrants have transited through Panama.
Pino added that the route of migrants to Panamanian territory has changed, since before there were three; two through the Caribbean and one through the Pacific Ocean. And that there are currently two routes.
“This year we have two routes; in the Pacific, the one that connects Uradó (Colombia) with Jaqué (Panama) and the route that reaches Canan Membrillo (Emberá region), in Darién”, Pino specified.
As part of the security actions carried out, Minister Pino reported that travelers from Syria, Pakistan and Lebanon with a Venezuelan passport have been detected.
Similarly to Chilean and Brazilian nationalized Haitian migrants, which is something they had registered since last year.
“Three alerts have resulted from all these verifications: from an Egyptian, a Mexican and a Nigerian. One for terrorism alert, another for murder and another for drug trafficking. Coordination has been responsibly made with Interpol for his deportation.”
The director of the National Migration Service, Samira Gozaine, revealed that the National Government invested around $45 million in 2021 to care for migrants.
Through this money, Migration provides foreigners who arrive at the immigration reception stations with food: breakfast, lunch and dinner, among other items.
