Addressing the humanitarian crisis of migration requires US, Colombia partnership | Opinion
In the heart of the Darién Gap, where the lush jungle teems with the struggles of those seeking a better life, the gravity of the migration crisis unfolds before our eyes. The perilous journey through this central transit route along the Colombia-Panama border is rife with risks — from criminal gang intimidation to tropical diseases. The International Organization of Migration (IOM) recently marked a grim milestone, with half a million individuals crossing this treacherous terrain in a single year, more than double the figure in 2022.
A stronger partnership is needed between the U.S. and Colombia, as well as municipal leaders in destination cities across the U.S., who are seeking to stem the tide of irregular migration, which is outpacing their ability to provide safe housing and social services.
As the former governor of the state of Chocó, encompassing part of the Darién Gap, I am familiar with the economic and social drivers of migration in this isolated and underdeveloped region. However, the present-day pressures on the Darién are unlike anything Colombia has ever experienced. A humanitarian crisis is unfolding across the Western Hemisphere. During a recent visit to the Darién alongside New York City Mayor Eric Adams, we attempted to dissuade individuals from undertaking the perilous trek. Many individuals acknowledged the inherent dangers but persisted in their northward journey.
From 2015 to 2021, the majority of arrivals in the Darién were from Haiti or Cuba. In 2023 a significant shift occurred, with an overwhelming number of Venezuelans crossing into Colombia. Colombia has welcomed nearly 3 million Venezuelans, the most of any country, and provided temporary protection status through a bilateral program with U.S. support.
Colombia and the United States share a common perspective that the irregular migration flowing through the Darién Gap represents an unsustainable humanitarian crisis. This is compounded as Colombia becomes a preferred transit country for more people from outside the Western Hemisphere. The crisis is growing. Colombia is engaged in a close collaboration with the U.S., Panama and other regional partners to address the root causes.
While there is no quick fix for this complex challenge, viable solutions exist. Joint efforts with the U.S. are under way to expand safe and legal pathways, exemplified by initiatives like Safe Mobility Offices. These offices facilitate lawful migration for qualifying Cuban, Haitian, and Venezuelan migrants from Colombia to destinations such as the United States and Canada. Establishing a regional framework for legal pathways based on humane treatment is crucial. The U.S. should intensify its collaboration with regional partners to expedite these programs.
Colombia is also urging regional partners to uphold migrants’ right to work in their countries. Providing migrants with a route to employment is a proven way to transition them from reliance on limited government resources to independence. President Gustavo Petro’s “Total Peace” initiative and rural development plan strives to provide economic opportunities and enhance security, diminishing the pressure to migrate. This multifaceted approach is essential for addressing the intricacies of the crisis.
With Venezuelans making up a large number of the migrants crossing the Darién this year, a crucial element of the solution involves improving the circumstances within Venezuela. Tackling the hardships there requires revitalized democratic processes agreed upon by Venezuelan people themselves. Colombia, with its strong democratic institutions, is playing a constructive role and stands ready to continue facilitating a tangible roadmap for solutions.
The U.S. and Colombia are united by a longstanding history of collaboration, and we can best mitigate the humanitarian crisis unfolding at our borders by harnessing our shared values of democracy, human rights, freedom and peace. In that spirit, governors and mayors situated along the irregular migration pathway should unite in pursuing common solutions and steer clear of a zero-sum mentality in order to foster a more secure and compassionate pathway for cross-border movement.
Luis Gilberto Murillo is the ambassador of Colombia to the United States and formerly served as minister of environment and sustainable development and governor of Chocó.
