The “green lung” must be saved. How will Panama deal with the “alarming” number of migrants crossing from the north?

The repatriation of illegal immigrants via U.S.-funded flights is part of a broader effort to reduce the flow of migrants to the north. On July 1, the United States and Panama signed a cooperation agreement to reduce the flow of unauthorized migrants illegally crossing the Panamanian border to the United States.

“The message we’re sending is very clear: Darien (in southern Panama near the Colombian border) is no longer a route,” explained Marlene Pinheiro, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, who reminded migrants that they must obey laws when crossing international borders.

In recent years, as authorities have closed air and sea routes, one of the main crossing points for migrants has become Panama’s Darien Corridor, a mountainous rainforest region connecting South America to Central America. It is considered one of the most dangerous migration routes in the world, with asylum seekers facing the risks of dangerous terrain, disease and gang violence in the region.

Particularly high influxes of immigrants were observed during this period. For Colombians and immigrants from other countries South America Countries must traverse a 106-kilometer stretch to reach Panama, through which they can then travel to the United States or Canada to seek asylum and work.