Panama Reports 41% Drop in Migrant Crossings Through Darien Gap in 2024

Panama credits stricter border measures and US-backed initiatives for the decline, though dangers and root causes of migration persist.

The number of migrants crossing the Darien Gap fell from 520,085 in 2023 to 302,203 in 2024, representing a 41% decrease, according to Panamanian authorities.
Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino attributed the decline to measures like barbed-wire fencing, increased border patrols, and deportation flights funded by the United States.
The US and Panama signed an agreement in July 2024 to close irregular migration routes, resulting in over 1,500 deportations from Panama to countries like Colombia and Ecuador.
Despite the reduction, the Darien Gap remains perilous, with at least 55 migrant deaths and 180 abandoned children reported in 2024, though the true toll may be higher.
Experts warn that these policies do not address the economic and political crises, particularly in Venezuela, driving 69% of the migrants to undertake the dangerous journey.