The Darien Gap, a perilous jungle corridor between Columbia and Panama, is the only land bridge connecting South and Central America. This makes it a critical point for migrants, predominantly those from Venezuela and other countries like Colombia, Ecuador and even China, seeking to reach the United States.
In 2023, the Public Security Ministry recorded around 520,085 total migrants crossing through the Darien Gap, with Venezuelans consisting more than 65 percent of the total. This year, 277,939 migrants crossed the Darien Gap as of Oct. 7, 36 percent fewer than the same period last year.
However, the data showed a significant spike in September, with 25,111 migrants crossing, marking a 51 percent increase from August. Venezuelans accounted for over 80 percent of last month's crossings, with additional migrants from Columbia, Ecuador, China and dozens of other nations contributing to the increase.
Refugees International, a global humanitarian organization, attributed the spike to post-election crackdowns in Venezuela. The socialist regime, led by Nicolas Maduro, declared victory amid allegations of voter suppression and manipulation.
Maduro, who controls all Venezuelan institutions, faced limited opposition, with genuine opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez being forced to flee to Spain after Maduro issued an arrest warrant against him. This in turn led to violent crackdowns on protests, leading to at least 27 deaths and over 2,400 arrests.
"The crackdown in the wake of the July 28, 2024 elections in Venezuela has led to an increase in immigration," the organization reported on Oct. 11, based on interviews with migrants at reception stations across Panama and Costa Rica.
Aside from that, Refugees International also blamed the suspension of MSF, an organization that provided humanitarian aid to migrants, due to the expiration of their agreement with Panama's Ministry of Health.
Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino, who took office on July 1, vowed to address the migration issue by closing key entry points and establishing a repatriation program in collaboration with the United States. (Related: President-elect Jose Raul Mulino of Panama vows to SHUT DOWN the Darien Gap.)
"Panama and our Darien [Gap] are not a transit route. It is our border," Mulino said in May after winning the presidential election. At the time, he reiterated his campaign promise to terminate "the Darien odyssey that does not have a reason to exist... Because when we start to deport people here in an immediate deportation plan, the interest for sneaking through Panama will decrease. I assure you they are going to say that going through Panama is not attractive because they are deporting you."
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