Panama establishes fines for migrants who enter irregularly

• The sanction applies to those who enter through the border with Colombia, and will be adjusted to the conditions of “vulnerability” of the migrants.

The Panamanian government established fines of between one thousand and five thousand dollars “for any foreign person” who enters the country irregularly through the border with Colombia, a sanction that, however, will be adjusted to the conditions of “vulnerability” of the immigrants.

The fines are contemplated in Executive Decree 194, approved and published on Friday, October 25 in the State Gazette, due to the “alarming” way in which the entry of foreign citizens into the country through the irregular migratory flow has increased. that crosses “through informal steps” the Darién jungle, the natural border with Colombia.

This situation, the rule states, constitutes a “clear violation of the officially authorized immigration control posts and, consequently, the configuration of an administrative immigration violation.”

Fine or deportation

Decree 194 stipulates that any foreign person who enters the country “violating the land, air or sea immigration control posts” will be fined an amount ranging from one thousand dollars to five thousand dollars, depending on the severity committed, “for which “You will not be able to leave the country without first having canceled this financial sanction.”

Photo: EFE/ Bienvenido Velasco

If you cannot do so because you do not have the financial resources, “your deportation will proceed” in accordance with Immigration laws.

The norm also contemplates that the sanction must be adjusted taking into consideration the “conditions of vulnerability” in which the migrants who are part of the irregular flow are and who enter Panama through the Darién jungle through informal passages.

The amounts of the fines

They will be fined $300 for the first time, $600 for the second, $900 for the third and one thousand for each of the following occasions, “for each foreign person who enters in this way through the Colombian-Panamanian border.” “, according to the decree.

Likewise, it points out that this fine must be paid by the irregular foreign citizen “before leaving the national territory for Costa Rica.”

The decree recalls that through Operation Controlled Flow the Panamanian State “ensures the transit of irregular migrants from border to border.”

This, he adds, “providing them with basic services and humanitarian aid, in an inter-institutional articulation that recognizes their human rights and protects them from their vulnerability to criminal networks.”

Migration through Darien

Until last October 13, 274,444 irregular travelers have arrived in Panama through the jungle, 36.5% less than the 432,211 registered in the same period of 2023, on their way to North America in search of better living conditions. according to Panamanian statistics.

An agreement between Panama and the United States to repatriate irregular migrants who cross the Darién Gap has reduced transit through that jungle by 92% for Ecuadorian citizens and by 65% ​​for Colombians, the U.S. Embassy in Panama said on October 22. the Central American country.

The agreement, signed on July 1, contemplates the repatriation by air and based on Panamanian laws of irregular migrants who have arrived in Panama after crossing the border jungle with Colombia, with the United States financing the flights.

Photo: EFE/ Moncho Torres

Almost 800 migrants have been deported on twenty flights financed by the United States, the first of them on August 20, 2024.

Colombians and Ecuadorians are among the main nationalities of irregular migrants who cross the jungle bound for North America.

For several years now, the vast majority have been Venezuelans, although the deportation plan cannot be applied to them given the suspension, since the end of July, of diplomatic relations between Panama and Venezuela.

With information from EFE

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