Costa Rica and Panama Collaborate to Regulate Southbound Migrant Transit

Costa Rica and Panama are collaborating to facilitate the safe transit of southbound migrants amid shifting migration patterns due to U.S. immigration policies. Primary focus is on assisting Colombians, Venezuelans, and Ecuadorians returning home while ensuring protection from human trafficking and addressing the concerns of detained migrants from Asia.

Costa Rica and Panama are actively coordinating efforts to manage the transit of migrants heading southward, reversing the trend of recent years where many sought to travel north. This collaboration follows a significant shift in migration patterns resulting from the restrictive immigration policies implemented by the Trump administration. In a meeting between security ministers, it was announced that measures will be taken to ensure safer passage for migrants moving through these countries.

Migrants from Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador are the primary focus of this initiative. They will be assisted in traveling from Costa Rica to Panama’s Darien province, which borders Colombia. Costa Rican Security Minister Mario Zamora emphasized the government’s aim to protect these individuals from human trafficking by organizing reliable transportation options.

As of late February 2025, small groups of migrants were seen arriving in Costa Rica from Nicaragua and boarding buses directed southward. Additionally, boats have been utilized to transport migrants from Panama’s Caribbean coastline to the Panama-Colombia border, which allows them to bypass the dangerous route across the Darien Gap. Current arrangements aim to provide regulated transit for those attempting to return home.

Some migrants have expressed their concerns regarding the safety of the travel methods being offered. Venezuelan migrant Bárbara Somayor articulated a desire for air travel instead of boats due to the associated risks, particularly for families. Meanwhile, instances of authorities halting migrants in both nations while attempting self-initiated travel have been reported.

Concurrently, Panama and Costa Rica have accepted several hundred migrants deported from the U.S., primarily from Asia. While some have chosen to return to their homelands, others remain in detention as officials and humanitarian organizations assess conditions and future arrangements. Reports of poor conditions and limited access to legal support have emerged from a camp in Panama’s Darien, which had previously catered to northbound migrants.

In response to these concerns, a group of attorneys has escalated the matter by filing a petition with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to seek protective measures for the detained migrants’ rights.

The coordination between Costa Rica and Panama represents a significant shift in migration patterns as both nations address the complexities introduced by changes in U.S. immigration policies. The focus on regulated transit aims to safeguard migrants, specifically those from vulnerable regions, while the situation regarding deportees further complicates the humanitarian landscape. Legal advocacy for detained migrants underscores the continuing challenges in managing migration and human rights in the region.

Original Source: apnews.com