(Panama) Panama’s President-designate, José Raul Mulino, pledged Thursday to return migrants crossing the Darien jungle from neighboring Colombia in an attempt to reach the United States.
“We will launch, with international assistance, a process of repatriation, while respecting human rights, of all the people there,” declared Mr. Mulino, who was elected Sunday as head of this pivotal state on the migratory route in Central America.
On April 16, he promised to “close” to migrants the Darien jungle, which extends over 575,000 hectares and 266 kilometers long on the border between Panama and Colombia.
More than 520,000 people, mostly Venezuelans, crossed this inhospitable region in 2023. And more than 110,000 in the first quarter of 2024, according to official statistics.
“Let those from there (in South America) and those who wish to come know, whoever arrives here will be sent back to their country of origin,” said Mr. Mulino, a 64-year-old lawyer who is due to take office at the head of state on 1er July.
“Our Darien is not a transit route, no sir, it is our border,” added the right-wing president-designate.