José Raúl Mulino, sworn in as Panama’s new president on Monday, faces immediate pressure to curb the influx of migrants crossing the Darien Gap, a treacherous jungle border with Colombia. The 65-year-old former security minister has vowed to shut down this illegal migration route, a stark contrast to the outgoing administration’s approach of facilitating the migrants’ passage through the country. Over 500,000 people traversed the Darien Gap last year, and more than 190,000 have already crossed in 2024, with most hailing from Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, and China. Mulino asserts that Panama will not serve as a conduit for illegal immigration, blaming a “international organization” involved in drug and human trafficking for enabling this flow. While acknowledging the underlying reasons for migration, he insists that each country must address its own problems.
Immediately following Mulino’s inauguration, the Panamanian government announced that U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas had signed a memorandum of understanding with Panama’s Foreign Affairs Minister Javier Martínez-Acha. This agreement sees the U.S. government committing to cover the cost of repatriating migrants who enter Panama illegally through the Darien. The U.S. role would primarily focus on financing deportation flights. Panama’s Foreign Affairs Minister-designate, Javier Martínez Acha, revealed that the U.S. would contribute financially, although the exact amounts have yet to be determined.
Experts, including Michael Shifter, an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, highlight the significant challenges facing Mulino in implementing his migration policy. While Mulino’s commitment to curbing irregular immigration is evident, Shifter emphasizes that opposition from various groups and interests can be expected. The U.S. government’s financial burden in deportations further complicates the situation.
Panama’s shift towards actively stopping and deporting migrants represents a drastic change. The previous government had focused on assisting migrants in their transit through the country, registering them and escorting them to the Costa Rican border. Strengthening enforcement efforts in Panama could potentially reduce the number of migrants reaching the U.S. border, at least temporarily, until alternative routes are established. However, it could also force migrants onto more perilous paths, potentially benefiting smugglers.
Mulino, who won the May election with over 30% of the vote, replaces former President Ricardo Martinelli, who was barred from running due to a 10-year prison sentence for money laundering. Besides migration, Mulino faces numerous challenges, including managing the Panama Canal, a crucial global trade route recently impacted by drought-induced traffic restrictions. He must also address the budget deficit caused by the cancellation of a major mining concession following public protests.
Mulino criticized the outgoing administration for leaving a struggling economy and high public debt. He pledged a government focused on resolving the concerns of ordinary Panamanians, promising programs to tackle youth unemployment and rebuild the country’s infrastructure.
