Costa Rica and Panama have initiated a coordinated effort to manage southbound migrant transit, responding to recent shifts in migration dynamics due to U.S. policy changes. The security ministers from both countries have proposed organized transport solutions to ensure the safety and regulation of the migration process. This collaboration includes addressing the needs of migrants returning to Colombia, Venezuela, and other nations, while dealing with those deported from the U.S. who are now in detention in the region.
Costa Rica and Panama are collaborating to facilitate the transit of southbound migrants, as both nations adjust to the changing landscape of migration prompted by restrictive U.S. policies. The security ministers from both countries convened on Monday at the Peñas Blancas border post, where they formulated a plan to manage the movement of migrants returning to Colombia and Venezuela. This initiative is intended to safeguard migrants from the threats posed by human traffickers along the route they previously traversed northward.
Costa Rican Security Minister Mario Zamora indicated that the focus will be on migrants from Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador who are returning to their homelands. Following an organized transit process, southbound migrants will board buses at the border, which will transport them to a Costa Rican facility before continuing on to Panama’s Darien province, adjacent to Colombia. Both countries aim to provide a more regulated and safe journey for these migrants who have faced numerous challenges.
In the past week, small groups of migrants arrived from Nicaragua, navigating immigration procedures before boarding buses for their journey. Additionally, some migrants have begun traveling by boat from Caribbean ports in Panama to avoid the notorious Darien Gap’s hazardous land transit. Despite the mode of travel, some migrants expressed concerns about safety, with one Venezuelan national, Bárbara Somayor, stating her preference for air transportation over the risks associated with boat travel.
The recent reversal in migration patterns coincides with the agreement between Panama and Costa Rica to accept several hundred migrants, particularly from Asian countries, deported from the United States. While some individuals have opted to return to their countries voluntarily, others are being detained as authorities and humanitarian organizations deliberate on appropriate next steps. Currently, some detainees reside at a camp in Panama’s Darien region, where they face difficult conditions and limited access to legal advice.
A group of lawyers has taken action by filing a petition with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to seek protective measures for the rights of detained migrants. The situation remains fluid as both governments navigate the complexities of migrant movements in light of recent policy changes impacting migration to the United States.
The collaborative efforts of Costa Rica and Panama aim to provide a more structured and secured approach for southbound migrants returning to their home countries amidst the challenges posed by U.S. immigration policies. This coordinated transit is designed to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation and ensure their safe passage across both nations. Ongoing legal and humanitarian considerations for detained migrants underscore the urgency of addressing their needs and rights in this evolving context.
Original Source: apnews.com
