Panama will fine migrants who enter the country illegally through the border with Colombia

The Panamanian government, through Executive Decree 194, implemented fines of between 1,000 and 5,000 dollars for migrants who enter the country without passing through immigration controls in the Darien jungle.

The measure, announced in Executive Decree 194 and published on October 25, responds to the increase in the number of people who enter without passing through official immigration controls, implemented fines of between 1,000 and 5,000 dollars for migrants who enter the country without passing through immigration controls in the Darien jungle.

The deportation of migrants who cross the Darien is not the only measure implemented by the Panamanian government, in addition, it establishes a system of graduated sanctions for those who repeat irregular crossings: the first infraction will carry a fine of 300 dollars, which will progressively increase up to 1,000 dollars in cases of multiple repeat offenses. Fines must be paid before leaving the country, bound for Costa Rica, to limit the entry of migrants seeking to reach the United States.

If they cannot do so due to lack of financial resources, “they will be deported” in accordance with the Immigration laws.

As of October 13, Panama recorded the entry of 274,444 irregular migrants who crossed the Darien jungle, a decrease of 36.5% compared to the 432,211 recorded the previous year.

Now, the Panamanian government has established fines “for any foreign person” who enters the country irregularly through the border with Colombia, a sanction that will be adjusted to the conditions of “vulnerability” of the immigrants.

The decline is due in part to an agreement between Panama and the United States, signed on July 1, which allows the repatriation of Ecuadorian and Colombian migrants through flights financed by the United States, which reduced the transit of these nationalities by 92% and 65%, respectively.

Since August, almost 800 migrants have been deported on about 20 flights. However, the agreement does not apply to Venezuelan migrants, due to the suspension of diplomatic relations between Panama and Venezuela since July.

Written by: Oscar El Blue