Skip to main content

Record migrant crossings along Darién jungle are creating an "unsustainable crisis," Colombian ambassador says

Record Surge in Migrant Crossings through Darién Jungle Considered "Unsustainable Crisis," Colombian Ambassador Comments

Record migrant crossings

Written by Camilo Montoya-Galvez and Luis Giraldo

Last Updated: October 6, 2023

Unprecedented Flow of Migrants Creates Crisis

An unparalleled surge of US-bound migrants crossing through Panama's perilous Darién jungle constitutes an "unmanageable crisis," stated the Colombian ambassador to the U.S. The month of September alone witnessed over 75,000 migrants traversing the jungle, according to the records from Panamanian authorities. This toll was just a few thousand short of the 82,000 crossings reported in August. The total count for the year crosses a staggering 400,000.

The unchecked migration flow along the Colombia-Panama border has led to an unprecedented influx of Venezuelan arrivals at the U.S. southern border. In September alone, approximately 50,000 Venezuelan migrants were processed, setting a new record high.

Colombia's Stand on the Crisis

Colombia's ambassador to the U.S., Luis Gilberto Murillo, opined that the irregular migration is indeed a crisis that poses severe safety threats. "That is why Colombia, and the U.S. are collaborating to ensure that potential migrants contemplate the perils before embarking on this hazardous journey," stated Murillo.

However, U.S. officials have expressed concern over what they perceive as Colombia's lenience in taking decisive steps to control the migration inflow into the Darién. At a recent event, top U.S. border official Blas Nuñez Neto referred to the jungle scenario as a "humanitarian catastrophe."

Instead of physically intercepting migrants, Colombia's first leftist president Gustavo Petro proposes remedying the situation in a humanitarian manner. Echoing similar sentiments, Murillo mentioned Colombia's focus on expanding legal migration opportunities, assimilating Venezuelan migrants into Colombian society, and improving local economies in collaboration with the U.S. to dissuade people from choosing to migrate.

Repercussions and Actions

Larger Democratic-led cities in the U.S., including New York, Chicago, and Denver, have grappled with housing the influx of migrants. They have been funneled into over 200 facilities such as hotels, homeless shelters, and tents. In particular, New York Mayor Eric Adams plans to join Murillo on a tour of the Darién Gap. The tour aims to illuminate the struggles his city faces in housing the migrant influx.

Colombia is currently providing refuge to approximately 3 million Venezuelans, the highest number among all countries. Given this increase of Venezuelan arrivals, the U.S. recently announced they would resume direct and regular deportations to Venezuela for migrants who entered the country unlawfully.

Ambassador's Response to Border Crisis

"Colombia is doing its part, but community and economic progression are urgently required to address the root causes of this humanitarian debacle," stated Murillo. His office remains silent on whether Colombia will take any action against the cartels and traffickers who pave the way for the migrants to cross the border with Panama.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

U.S. Sends 1M Rounds of Seized Iranian Ammo to Ukraine - USNI News

U.S. Dispatches Over 1 Million Rounds of Confiscated Iranian Ammunition to Ukraine In a significant geopolitical move, the United States has dispatched approximately 1.1 million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine. The ammunition, originally seized from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in December, was forwarded through the U.S. Central Command. A Strategic Move Amid Rising Tensions As regional tensions escalate, this swift action by the US is seen as a strategic maneuver to equip Ukraine in handling potential threats. By forwarding seized ammunition from the IRGC, the United States is making a clear stance against any attempts to destabilize the region. The Ammunition's Origin and Seizure The dispatched ammunition has a notable backstory. It was part of a larger cache seized from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a powerful military branch that has often found itself in conflict with U.S. interests. In the initial seizure conducted in Dece...

New Orleans residents brace for salt water intrusion as Biden declares national emergency

Federal Emergency Declared as New Orleans Faces Threat of Saltwater Intrusion The water infrastructure of New Orleans is under threat from saltwater intrusion, triggering a federal emergency declaration by President Joe Biden. Biden Responds to Impending Crisis In response to diminishing fresh water levels in the Mississippi River due to irregular rainfall patterns, President Joe Biden sanctioned a declaration of federal emergency. This concern arises from the rising saltwater levels beneath the depleting fresh water, a situation emerging over the last couple of months. This recent development has the potential to seriously jeopardize New Orleans' water infrastructure. Implications of the Saltwater Intrusion Historically, the Mississippi River's stronger current and an underwater sill have kept the saltwater intrusion at bay. However, the saltwater layer managed to override the sill on Monday, infiltrating the drinking water supply of Plaquemines Parish, Louisia...

New Jersey authorities probe fatal 2018 crash involving Sen. Bob Menendez's wife

New Jersey Probes are Investigating Fatal Crash Connected to Sen. Bob Menendez's Wife The New Jersey attorney general's office, along with the Bergen County prosecutor's office, is reportedly digging deeper into a fatal 2018 car crash that involved Nadine Menendez, the wife of Senator Bob Menendez. The investigative authorities are said to be keenly examining if any undue influence was leveraged by any parties connected to the car crash's enquiry initially led by local police in Bogota, New Jersey, identified sources told ABC News. A Fatal Night, A Growing Investigation In an unfortunate incident from 2018, one man lost his life in a car crash while Nadine Menendez was behind the wheel. Despite the gravity of the situation, or perhaps due to unseen influences, Nadine Menendez was quickly released by law enforcement officers attending the scene without conducting a standard sobriety test, as the dashcam footage from the fateful night indicates. The Ne...