nearly-200,000-people-have-crossed-the-darien-jungle-to-arrive-during-the-course-of-2023

The National Migration Service of Panama reported that at least 196,370 migrants have crossed the Darién Jungle, between Panama and Colombia, during the first semester of 2023. This figure represents a considerable increase, taking into account that in the same period in 2022 a figure of 49,452 people had been registered.

According to the figures, 100,514 of the immigrants who crossed the jungle between January and June were Venezuelans. They were followed by Haitians, with 33,074, Ecuadorians, with 25,105, citizens of 23 African countries, 6,420, Chileans, 4,964, and Colombians, 3,579.

April was the month with the highest number of travelers entering Panama through the jungle on their irregular journey to North America, with 40,297, that is, 6.5 times more than the 6,134 in the same month of 2022. It was followed in descending order by May. , with 38,962; March, with 38,009; June, with 29,721; January, with 24,634 and February, with 24,657 migrants.

According to figures from the Panamanian Ministry of Security, until mid-June at least 175,000 migrants entered the Darién jungle in the first six months of the year. In 2022, the annual entry of migrants through that same route was 248,000 people in total.

Panama United States Darien JunglePanama United States Darien Jungle
Travelers, who cross the Darien jungle on foot on a 165-mile journey.
Photo: Getty Images

For its part, the Customs and Border Protection Office (CBP) reported that immigration detentions at the southern border of the United States fell by 25%, compared to the year 2022, when Title 42 still existed as a measure of the Joe government. Biden to prevent illegal migration to American soil.

According to Customs and Border Protection, there have been 169,244 apprehensions between ports of entry recorded this month, plus half that occurred before Title 42 was suspended, but Title 8 began to be enforced.

“As a result of extensive planning and preparedness efforts, there has been a significant reduction in encounters on the Southwest border,” Acting CBP Director Troy Miller said in a statement.

With information from EFE

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By Scribe