Biden Admin Working With Panama, Columbia to Stop Illegal Migration Through Darién Gap

The Biden administration is teaming up with the governments of Panama and Columbia to prevent illegal migration through the perilous Darién Gap, which links North and South America.

Alejandro Mayorkas, the Secretary of Homeland Security for the United States, issued a joint statement on Tuesday with Janaina Tewaney, the Foreign Minister for Panama, and Álvaro Leyva Durán, the Foreign Minister for Colombia. The three nations will work together over the next 60 days to cease “the illicit movement of people and goods through the Darién by both land and maritime corridors, which leads to death and exploitation of vulnerable people for significant profit.”

The Darién Gap is in the southern part of Panama, which lies to the north of Colombia. In recent months, the Darién route has been a major source of immigrant traffic.

According to the government of Panama, over 87,000 immigrants crossed the Darién Gap in the first three months of this year, mainly from Venezuela, Haiti, and Ecuador. This is an increase from almost 14,000 immigrants in the same period last year.

Last year, almost 250,000 individuals made use of the Darién route, setting a record for migrants. Venezuelans accounted for about 60% of the immigrants who crossed there last year.

The trilateral statement did not provide specifics about how the three nations would halt the mass flow of illegal migration through the Darién Gap. Rather, the countries stated that they would “open new lawful and flexible pathways for tens of thousands of migrants and refugees as an alternative to irregular migration.”

The three countries also announced that they would “launch 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 Panamá, through international partnerships across financial institutions, civil society, and the private sector.”

Dangers in the Darién Gap

The Darién Gap is one of the most hazardous parts of the journey from South America to the southern border of the United States. Hazards on the route include venomous wildlife like the fer-de-lance pit viper, dangerous elements like rushing rivers, and human threats like robbers. Migrants and international human rights groups have condemned sexual assaults, theft, and murders in the remote jungle region.

Criminal networks have also reportedly used the Darién Gap in their drug smuggling and human trafficking operations.

During the final year of President Donald Trump’s term in office, the United States blocked migrants from entering the country through a pandemic-era interpretation of Title 42 of the US Code. With the Biden administration aiming to unwind Title 42, individuals may be more incentivized to risk the long, perilous journey from South America to the United States.

The Biden administration may now view the Darién Gap as a crucial chokepoint in preventing individuals from attempting this dangerous journey.

Biden Administration’s Actions to Address Illegal Immigration

The joint effort between the three countries comes amid the US response to a record-breaking number of border crossings last year. According to the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data, approximately 2.38 million people were either detained or turned back at the border in the 2022 fiscal year, which ended on September 30.

In October, the Biden administration began using the pandemic-related rule known as Title 42 to exclude Venezuelans from requesting asylum at the border. As a result, the Biden administration implemented a parole program aiming to accept as many as 24,000 Venezuelans each month.