The flow of Venezuelan migrants who have entered Panama irregularly continues to decrease “considerably,” the president of that country, Laurentino Cortizo, said Thursday, although he did not provide specific figures.
However, the migration of people from Haiti and Ecuador continues to be a challenge, added the president during a celebration to mark the 119th anniversary of the separation of Panama from Colombia.
Cortizo highlighted a meeting held with officials from Panama, Costa Rica and Colombia, in addition to a representative from the United States, where the migratory crisis of Venezuelans who cross the dangerous jungle of Darien.
According to the Panama Migration website, seven points were established at the meeting, on which the roadmap for the second meeting between the representatives of the four countries involved in the situation will be established.
“All the work is being done jointly,” Cortizo stressed.
Among the points that will be addressed at the next meeting -which will take place on November 9- is the creation of a “human mobility observatory”, in order to obtain information on irregular migratory movement.
Similarly, it is proposed to request the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to carry out an updated analysis of the programs for migrants in the region, to identify job opportunities for people in this condition.
Record number of migrants arriving in Panama
In accordance with data of Migration and Immigration of Panama, so far in 2022, a record number of 208,866 people have entered the country irregularly, of which 148,052 are Venezuelan nationals.
For the month of October, there are 40,360 Venezuelans who have entered Panama irregularly.
The decline in Venezuelan migrants, most of whom were seeking the United States, came after President Joe Biden announced a new program that give humanitarian permits to 24,000 Venezuelans.
However, Venezuelan migrants who arrive irregularly at the southern border of the United States will be expelled under Title 42, a health control measure for COVID-19.
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