The flow of irregular migrants through the Darién to the north has decreased by 99%, according to Panama’s Deputy Minister of Public Security, Luis Felipe Icaza, during a meeting with his Costa Rican counterpart, Mario Zamora Cordero. This reduction is attributed to the strategies implemented by the Panamanian Government and to the so-called “reverse migratory flow”, which seeks to manage the return of migrants to their countries of origin.

Since this process began, 4,337 migrants have arrived in Panama from the United States, of which 4,108 are Venezuelans. According to the director of the National Migration Service, Roger Mojica, 189 migrants accepted the voluntary return, while another 107 received a temporary humanitarian permit.

To coordinate this return, Panama and Costa Rica have held several bilateral meetings. In February, the security ministers of both countries established a repatriation protocol, which includes the concentration of migrants in the Migrant Attention Center (CATEM) in Costa Rica, where a biometric control is carried out before their transfer to Panama and subsequent repatriation.

On March 3, a new meeting in Costa Rica addressed the increase in the reverse migratory flow, establishing measures to strengthen security and prevent migrants from falling into criminal networks. In addition, a bus transport system was implemented from Peñas Blancas (border with Nicaragua) to shelters in Panama, guaranteeing a safe and orderly return.

The authorities of both countries continue to strengthen cooperation to manage migration in a humanitarian and effective manner.