Panama pledges to curb migrant crossings as US agrees to pay for repatriation
The News
Panama’s newly inaugurated president pledged to curb migrant crossings via the Darién Gap — a dangerous route for many looking to make their way to the United States.
The remarks by José Raúl Mulino, a former security minister, came as Washington signed a deal with his government, committing to pay for the repatriation of any migrants who entered Panama via the crossing, a largely lawless patch of jungle connecting the country to Colombia.
The number of migrants making the journey has skyrocketed in the past year, reshaping not just the politics of the countries affected but also those of the US, where immigration has neared the top of voters’ concerns in a presidential election year.
