José Raúl Mulino sworn in as Panama's new president, promises to stop migration through Darien Gap (2024)

By JUAN ZAMORANO

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PANAMA CITY (AP) — José Raúl Mulino was sworn in Monday as Panama’s next president, facing pressure to slow irregular migration through the Darien Gap that connects his country with Colombia.

The 65-year-old former security minister has promised to shut down migration through the jungle-clad and largely lawless border.

More than half a million people traversed the corridor last year and more than 190,000 people have crossed so far in 2024, with most of the migrants hailing from Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia and China.

José Raúl Mulino was sworn in on Monday as Panama’s next president. The new leader faces pressure to slow irregular migration through the Darien Gap that connects Panama with Colombia. The 65-year-old former security minister has promised to shut down migration through the jungle-clad and largely lawless border. (AP Video/Abraham Terán)

“I won’t allow Panama to be an open path for thousands of people who enter our country illegally, supported by an international organization related to drug trafficking and human trafficking,” Mulino said Monday, after he was sworn in. “I understand that there are deep-rooted reasons for migration, but each country has to resolve its problems.”

Shortly after Mulino’s inauguration, the Panamanian government released a statement saying that U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas had signed a memorandum of understanding Monday with Panama’s Foreign Affairs Minister Javier Martínez-Acha in which the U.S. government committed to covering the cost of repatriation of migrants who enter Panama illegally through the Darien.

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Last week on a visit to the Darien, Mulino announced he would seek an agreement with the United States government to aid in deporting migrants who crossed into Panama. Mayorkas was among those who attended his inauguration.

José Raúl Mulino sworn in as Panama's new president, promises to stop migration through Darien Gap (4)

The U.S. role would largely be covering the cost of deportation flights. Panama’s Foreign Affairs Minister-designate Javier Martínez Acha said Sunday that the U.S. would help cover the costs, but that the amounts were not yet set.

“As the key issue on his agenda, Mulino has promised to end irregular immigration through the Darien Gap,” said Michael Shifter, adjunct professor at Georgetown University. “The new president appears to be supremely committed to this idea.”

“However, it won’t be easy to carry out this policy, groups and interests can be expected to come out against it,” Shifter said. The U.S. government will have to shoulder the costs of deportation, he said.

Panama’s active efforts to stop and deport migrants would be a massive shift. Under the outgoing administration, Panama had sought to help migrants cross the country quickly and in an orderly fashion. Migrants emerge from the jungle, register with authorities and are swept across the country to the Costa Rican border.

The presidents of Costa Rica and Colombia also attended the inauguration.

Strengthening enforcement efforts in Panama could potentially reduce the number of migrants reaching the U.S. border, at least for a time until new routes are established. But it could also force migrants to riskier paths and be a boon for smugglers.

Mulino won the election in May in a crowded field with more than 30% of the vote. He replaced former President Ricardo Martinelli as candidate after the former leader was banned from running after being sentenced to 10 years in prison for money laundering.

José Raúl Mulino sworn in as Panama's new president, promises to stop migration through Darien Gap (5)

In addition to migration, Mulino will have to manage one of the world’s key trade routes, the Panama Canal, which was forced to limit traffic this year by persistent drought.

He will also have to find a way to plug a hole in Panama’s budget caused by the scrapping of a major mining concession after popular protests.

On Monday, Mulino criticized the outgoing administration of President Laurentino Cortizo for leaving him a limping economy and high levels of public debt.

“I will have an administration mainly focused on resolving the problem of the great majority of Panamanians,” Mulino said. “That doesn’t mean getting rid of wealth, but rather combating poverty.”

He promised to launch a program aimed at youth employment and an effort to rebuild the country’s roads and highways.

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Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

José Raúl Mulino sworn in as Panama's new president, promises to stop migration through Darien Gap (2024)

FAQs

Why did Panama revolt against Colombia What did Panama give to the US? ›

When the United States sought to take over the canal project, the government of Colombia proved difficult to work with, and with the cooperation of French financier Philippe-Jean Bunau-Varilla, Panama simultaneously declared independence from Colombia and negotiated a treaty granting the U.S. the right to construct the ...

Who is the ruler of Panama? ›

List of heads of state of Panama
President of the Republic of Panama
Incumbent José Raúl Mulino since 1 July 2024
ResidencePalacio de las Garzas, Panama City
Term lengthFive years, renewable once non-consecutively
PrecursorLaurentino Cortizo
8 more rows

Did Panama successfully revolt against Colombia? ›

President Roosevelt responded by dispatching U.S. warships to Panama City (on the Pacific) and Colón (on the Atlantic) in support of Panamanian independence. Colombian troops were unable to negotiate the jungles of the Darien Strait and Panama declared independence on November 3, 1903.

What was the real reason the US invaded Panama? ›

The United States invaded Panama in mid-December 1989 during the presidency of George H. W. Bush. The primary purpose of the invasion was to depose the de facto ruler of Panama, General Manuel Noriega, who was wanted by U.S. authorities for racketeering and drug trafficking.

Why did the US give the Panama Canal to Panama? ›

The Colombian Senate refused to ratify the treaty, but Panama was in the process of seceding from Colombia. President Theodore Roosevelt therefore supported the cause of Panamanian independence with the Canal in mind.

Why did the US pay $21 million to Colombia in 1921? ›

On 20 April 1921, the U.S. Senate ratified the Urrutia-Thomson Treaty (UTT). The UTT was a foreign treaty that committed the United States to pay $25 million in reparations to Colombia in compensation for American support of Panama's secession from Colombia in 1903.

Why did the United States encourage Panama's Declaration of Independence from Colombia? ›

The United States encouraged Panama's Declaration of Independence from Colombia because the United States wanted to build a canal across Panama for international shipping, allowing ships to move from Atlantic to Pacific (and vice-versa) without having to sail all the way around South America.

Why did the United States aid the efforts of Panamanian rebels who wanted independence from Colombia? ›

Expert-Verified Answer

The Colombian government had blocked the United States' efforts to secure rights to the Panama Canal Zone. This made the United States strike a deal to help Panama gain independence.

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