Panama’s newly-elected president, Jose Raul Mulino, has placed the blame for the ongoing migrant crisis in the Western Hemisphere squarely on the shoulders of the United States. He asserted that deportation flights, partially funded by the US, are strictly voluntary. “This is a United States problem that we are managing,” Mulino declared on Thursday. “People don’t want to live here in Panama. They want to go to the United States.” Panama serves as a key crossing point for migrants heading north, many of whom traverse the treacherous Darien Gap, a vast jungle spanning the border of Panama and Colombia. This perilous passage acts as a gateway through Central America and towards the US.
The US has collaborated with Panama and Colombia in attempts to curb crossings, including a 60-day campaign last year to address the humanitarian crisis. This campaign aimed to dismantle illicit human trafficking networks, establish “lawful and flexible pathways” for migrants, and implement a plan to “reduce poverty, improve public service delivery, create jobs and promote economic and sustainable opportunities in border communities in northern Colombia and southern Panama, through international partnerships across financial institutions, civil society and the private sector.” Despite these efforts, over half a million migrants passed through Panama last year. Mulino has pledged to implement changes to resolve the crisis and make Panama a less appealing destination for migrants. He has also vowed to increase deportations.
Earlier this month, the US signed a memorandum of understanding with Panama that outlined US funding for deportation flights and other assistance to help Panama deport migrants. A US spokesperson stated that these efforts to return migrants to their homelands “will help deter irregular migration in the region and at our southern border and halt the enrichment of malign smuggling networks that prey on vulnerable migrants.” However, Mulino clarified this week that only those migrants who willingly consent will be returned. He emphasized, “If migrants don’t want to return to their countries, “then they’ll go (to the U.S.). I can’t arrest them. We can’t forcibly repatriate them.”
The Biden administration has highlighted the importance of international relations and cooperation as a key component of its strategy to curb border crossings, which have surged under its watch, making the border crisis a prominent political issue in the US. Republicans have attributed this crisis to the Biden administration’s rollback of Trump-era policies and have accused the administration of incentivizing migration through “open border” policies. The administration has maintained that it requires funding and legislative reforms from Congress, which it has yet to secure. However, the administration has recently pointed to a decline in crossings since President Biden issued an executive order restricting crossings and tightening asylum interview standards.
Since June, encounters at the border have decreased by more than 50%, and the number of migrant releases has fallen by 70%. Officials have also reported that the administration has removed and returned over 50,000 individuals to over 100 countries. Mulino expressed hope that upcoming Venezuelan elections could offer a solution to the crisis, noting, “Practically all of Venezuela is walking through there every day.” He added, “If the elections in that country are carried out properly, respecting the popular will regardless of who wins, I’m sure that that number will go down.” The Associated Press contributed to this report. Adam Shaw is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital, primarily covering immigration and border security. He can be reached at adam.shaw2@fox.com or on Twitter.
