Panama immigration policy faces crisis

Although historically Panama, due to its geographical position, is a mandatory pathway for hundreds of foreigners, disorder in the immigration controls in recent months has reached such a high level that it has sparked a crisis in the region bordering Costa Rica.

Javier Carrillo, director of the National Service of Migration (SNM) recognizes that for years, immigrants, Cubans and Haitians, pass through Panama, but this was only since last November, when Nicaragua closed their border, that there has been a crisis.

The situation that has resulted has put in doubt the effectiveness of Panamanian immigration policy. The situation has reached such a level, that the migration of foreigners has become a headache for authorities and those living in the border area.

"The goal is to reach United States and Canada and not to stay in Panama," said Carrillo.

For the former Director of the National Police, Rolando Mirones, Panama cannot continue to be a country where somebody comes and also stays.

He pointed out that one of the biggest problems of the Panamanian authorities is the immigration issue, because it seems that there are no appropriate controls.

They do not carry documents

Carrillo said that the supposed immigrants do not have documents identifying them or the origin of country, so they may not be deported.

"We have doubt that actually are immigrants, since many speak Portuguese, French, so it is suspected that they are Haitians who enter from Brazil towards the United States", he added.

In terms of the number of foreigners that there is on the border with Costa Rica, he said not having the exact number because they are in Costa Rican territory.

Deportation

The director of migration said that if they deport the immigrants it would be very dangerous, because they would have to go through the border with Colombia, which is a forest area, and should something happen to these people, only Panama can be made liable.

As for Cubans, he said that they may not be deported if they have no documents because Panama has a Convention of deportation with the island which complicates the situation. "It is a very complex process that may take a while, so we have decided to improve shelters and take care of each one of them," he added.

It recognized that the subject will be extended for a longer while, because there are approximately 40 thousand Cubans in Ecuador, according to the authorities of the South American country.

Since last November, Nicaragua decided to close its borders due to the increase of immigrants passing through their country bound to the United States and Canada.

And the situation became more critical last week when Nicaragua did not allow the advance of a group of immigrants, which is why last Friday the Costa Rican authorities tried to expel them to Panama, through where they say they had entered Costa Rican territory.