Costa Rica and Panama Collaborate for Southbound Migrant Transit

Costa Rica and Panama are facilitating the southbound transit of migrants increasingly returning from the U.S. due to strict immigration policies. The initiative aims to transport migrants safely via buses and boats while protecting them from human trafficking. The collaboration also addresses responsibilities for accepting deported migrants, ensuring their rights and well-being during this transitional period.

Costa Rica and Panama are collaborating to facilitate the transit of southbound migrants, as reported by officials on Monday. This initiative follows a change in migration patterns, with many individuals now returning from southern Mexico after being deterred from entering the United States due to the immigration policies implemented by the Trump administration. The security ministers from both nations convened in Peñas Blancas, a border point between Nicaragua and Costa Rica, to discuss arrangements for managing this reverse flow of migrants.

Under this coordinated effort, southbound migrants will be transported by bus from Costa Rica to Panama’s Darien province, which adjoins Colombia. Costa Rican Security Minister Mario Zamora highlighted the primary focus on assisting Colombian, Venezuelan, and Ecuadorian nationals wishing to return to their home countries. The aim is to provide safer transit options and protect these individuals from human trafficking.

Groups of migrants have begun crossing the Nicaraguan border into Costa Rica, going through immigration checks before boarding buses that will take them south. Recently, migrants have also been utilizing boats from Panamanian ports to reach the Panama-Colombian border, thereby avoiding the dangerous land route through the Darien Gap.

Venezuelan migrant Bárbara Somayor expressed concerns regarding transport safety: “I think it would be better if they offered us air transportation, because boats pose a risk for both adults and children. But, well, one has to take the risk.” This reflection underscores the precarious nature of current travel conditions for migrants.

In addition to managing the transit of southbound migrants, Costa Rica and Panama have agreed to accept several hundred deported migrants from nations such as those in Asia. While some individuals return voluntarily to their countries, others face detainment as their situations are assessed by authorities and humanitarian organizations. Conditions in some makeshift camps for detained migrants remain challenging, with reports of harsh treatment and lack of access to legal support.

Human rights advocates have raised alarms regarding the treatment of detained migrants. A coalition of lawyers has petitioned the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to implement protective measures for these individuals and ensure their rights are respected during this transitional process.

The coordination between Costa Rica and Panama marks a significant response to the evolving migration landscape in Central America. Focused on the safe transit of migrants seeking to return southward, this partnership aims to mitigate risks associated with human traffickers and challenging travel conditions. As both countries adjust to these changes, ensuring the rights and safety of all migrants remains a vital concern that warrants ongoing attention and action from authorities and humanitarian organizations alike.

Original Source: apnews.com