Black Agenda Report
Black Agenda Report
News, commentary and analysis from the black left.

  • Home
  • Africa
  • African America
  • Education
  • Environment
  • International
  • Media and Culture
  • Political Economy
  • Radio
  • US Politics
  • War and Empire
  • omnibus

Panama Escalates Measures in a Pre Existing Migration Crisis
Janvieve Williams Comrie
17 Jul 2024
Migrants crossing the Darien Gap

Panama is tightening its border policy to stop migrants from entering the country by making the conditions of migrating through the Darién Gap even more dangerous and inhumane. 

Originally published in AfroResistance.

Panama's government, under President José Raúl Molino, is taking drastic measures to curb the flow of migrants crossing from Colombia into Panama through the perilous Darién Gap. This strategy involves erecting barbed wire fences across critical jungle paths, effectively sealing off one of the most treacherous migration routes in Latin America.

The Darién Gap, a dense, lawless stretch of jungle, has long been a critical point for migrants making their way from South America to the United States. In the first half of 2024 alone, over 197,000 people have risked their lives traversing this dangerous terrain, facing threats from criminal organizations, wild animals, and hazardous landscapes. The majority of these migrants come from Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, and China. By blocking this route, the Panamanian government hopes to stem the tide of migration, but this policy raises serious humanitarian concerns.

The immediate impact of these new barriers is already evident. Migrants, unable to traverse their usual paths, are left with few alternatives. They might attempt to find other, equally perilous routes across the 260-kilometer border or risk crossing the sea, where encounters with the Panamanian Coast Guard could result in fatal consequences. This strategy not only heightens the dangers faced by migrants but also risks creating a bottleneck effect, trapping thousands in precarious conditions.

AfroResistance, an organization that has long been critical of Panama's approach to humanitarian and safety issues at the border, highlights the severe risks posed by these new measures. They report firsthand accounts from Black migrants in the United States who have endured the harrowing journey through the Darién Gap and faced inhumane, racist, and other types of mistreatment. These accounts underscore the critical need for policies that prioritize the safety and dignity of migrants.

Compounding the issue is the stalled bi-national effort between Panama and Colombia. Initially, the two nations had agreed to form a joint task force to address migration collaboratively. However, with Panama's unilateral decision to fortify its borders with barbed wire, this cooperative initiative has been put on hold.

In light of these developments, a delegation organized by AfroResistance will travel to Panama in October to assess the current situation and advocate for the rights of migrants. This delegation aims to bring international attention to the humanitarian crisis unfolding at the border and to work towards more effective and humane solutions. For more information about this initiative, visit AfroResistance's travel page.

The new measures represent a significant shift in Panama's migration policy, prioritizing border security over humanitarian considerations. As the situation unfolds, it becomes increasingly crucial to monitor the repercussions on the migrant population and advocate for safer, more humane solutions to this complex issue.

For further details on Panama’s evolving migration policy, please refer to the original article on AfroResistance's website.

Panama
Colombia
South America
Haiti
Immigration

Do you need and appreciate Black Agenda Report articles. Please click on the DONATE icon, and help us out, if you can.


Related Stories

U.N. Human Rights Watch
US: 20 Years of Immigrant Abuses: Under 1996 Laws, Arbitrary Detention, Fast-Track Deportation, Family Separation
30 April 2025
For nearly three decades, draconian 1996 immigration laws have torn families apart—jailing long-term residents over minor offenses, fast-tracki
Mildred Trouilot Aristide
Haiti And The Global Movement For Reparations
16 April 2025
Haiti Action Committee is honored to share the keynote address given by Haiti’s former First Lady Mildred Aristide
Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti
Remembering Mario Joseph, BAI Managing Attorney
09 April 2025
The world has lost a champion of justice with the passing of Mario Joseph, a Haitian human rights lawyer who spent nearly three decades fightin
Krys Cerisier
U.S. Escalates Tension with Panama as the Panamanian Government Cracks Down on Domestic Protest
02 April 2025
U.S. influence over Panama has steadily increased over the years due to the active pressure from instruments like SOUTHCOM.
Janvieve Williams Comrie
Panama's Shift Toward Militarization Raises Sovereignty Concerns Amid U.S. Influence
19 March 2025
Panama's deepening military ties with the U.S. challenge the nation's constitutionally mandated demilitarization.
Janvieve Williams Comrie
Panama’s Outrage Over Deportations: A Reckoning with a Reality Long Ignored
12 March 2025
Trump administration interference in Panama has brought about a reckoning on migration and human rights throughout the region.
Clau O'Brien Moscoso , Austin Cole
The Struggle for a Zone of Peace Continues!: A Conversation with Austin Cole
26 February 2025
The newly launched U.S./NATO Out of the Americas Network activates local grassroots organizations across the region in an effort to make this h
Kit Klarenberg
USAID Exported CIA Balkan Terror to Haiti
26 February 2025
/*-->*/ /*-->*/
Nato Koury
Guantánamo Bay’s forgotten history of detaining Haitian migrants
19 February 2025
The threats by the Trump administration to detain migrants in Guantanamo Bay will not be the first time the United States has used the facility
Jake Johnston
Where Does the Money Go? A Look at USAID Spending in Haiti
12 February 2025
The Trump administration is dismantling USAID, intending to absorb its mission into the State Department. USAID's engagement with Haiti demonst

More Stories


  • BAR Radio Logo
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Black Agenda Radio May 9, 2025
    09 May 2025
    In this week’s segment, we discuss the 80th anniversary of victory in Europe in World War II, and the disinformation that centers on the U.S.'s role and dismisses the pivotal Soviet role in that…
  • Book: The Rebirth of the African Phoenix
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    The Rebirth of the African Phoenix: A View from Babylon
    09 May 2025
    Roger McKenzie is the international editor of the UK-based Morning Star, the only English-language socialist daily newspaper in the world. He joins us from Oxford to discuss his new book, “The…
  • ww2
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Bruce Dixon: US Fake History of World War II Underlies Permanent Bipartisan Hostility Toward Russia
    09 May 2025
    The late Bruce Dixon was a co-founder and managing editor of Black Agenda Report. In 2018, he provided this commentary entitled, "US Fake History of World War II Underlies Permanent Bipartisan…
  • Nakba
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    The Meaning of Nakba Day
    09 May 2025
    Nadiah Alyafai is a member of the US Palestinian Community Network chapter in Chicago and she joins us to discuss why the public must be aware of the Nakba and the continuity of Palestinian…
  • Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    Ryan Coogler, Shedeur Sanders, Karmelo Anthony, and Rodney Hinton, Jr
    07 May 2025
    Black people who are among the rich and famous garner praise and love, and so do those who are in distress. But concerns for the masses of people and their struggles are often missing.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us