Costa Rica and Panama are working together to facilitate the transit of southbound migrants through their countries, following the closure of the United States border to asylum seekers. Officials from both nations met at the Peñas Blancas border post to coordinate the transportation of migrants heading south. The plan involves transporting migrants from Costa Rica to Panama's Darien province, which borders Colombia.
The focus of this effort is on Colombians, Venezuelans, and Ecuadorians who are trying to return to their countries. By organizing transportation, the authorities aim to protect migrants from human traffickers and provide a more regulated transit process across both countries.
Southbound migrants have been seen crossing the Nicaraguan border into Costa Rica, clearing immigration, and boarding buses heading south. Last week, some migrants boarded boats in a Panamanian port on the Caribbean Sea to reach the Panama-Colombian border, avoiding the treacherous land crossing of the Darien Gap.
While some migrants have expressed concerns about the risks associated with boat travel, they acknowledge the necessity of taking such risks to continue their journey. In recent weeks, some migrants attempting to make their own way south had faced challenges from authorities in both countries.
Simultaneously, Panama and Costa Rica have agreed to receive several hundred migrants, primarily from Asian nations, who were deported by the United States. Some migrants have agreed to return to their home countries, while others remain detained as discussions continue on their future.
Detained migrants in Panama's Darien province have raised complaints about harsh conditions, lack of information, and limited access to legal counsel. Concerns about safeguarding the rights of detained migrants have prompted a group of lawyers to file a petition with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights for protective measures.
