José Raúl Mulino sworn in as Panama’s new president, vows migration crackdown
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US, Panama Sign Deal to Curb Migration Through Darien Gap
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The Facts
Panama has announced a deal with Washington to send migrants illegally crossing the Darien Gap to reach the US back to their homelands, as a US delegation visited the country for the inauguration of Pres. José Raúl Mulino on Monday.
Under their memorandum of understanding, the US has agreed to cover the costs of repatriation and to provide Panama with "equipment, transportation, and logistics" for handling illegal migrants.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
This agreement comes at a critical time for the Biden administration, which has sought to demonstrate strong action to secure the country's southern border and discourage potential migrants. As the border issue is ranked as one of the most important topics in the upcoming November election, this deal — if successful — may help Biden.
Establishment-critical narrative
At first, this policy may seem like a good idea. Yet, it is doomed to fail and force vulnerable people further into the hands of human trafficking gangs. Desperate migrants flee either poverty or persecution, so they are already willing to take significant risks on their journey to the US border. Blocking this route will only drive them further underground.