Sawt Falasteen - US urges migrants to stick to legal routes in Panama visit

Mayorkas's comments come as a record number of migrants have passed through the dangerous Darien Gap jungle between Colombia and Panama since the start of the year.

Some 100,000 people have taken the perilous route since January 1, six times the number from the same period last year, according to figures given to AFP by Panamanian migration services.

At least 52 migrants died in the Darien Gap in 2022, according to official figures, but authorities fear the true number is far higher.

"The United States continues to enforce our immigration laws and individuals coming to the United States unlawfully will continue to face consequences, including removal," Mayorkas said following his meeting with the foreign affairs ministers of Panama, Janaina Tewanay, and Colombia, Alvaro Leyva.

"Instead, those seeking to come to the United States should take advantage of safe, orderly and lawful pathways that we are presenting to them."

Close to 250,000 migrants crossed the Darien Gap illegally in 2022.

The jungle measures 266 kilometers in length and covers 575,000 hectares. It is infested with mosquitoes and snakes, but also criminal groups.

Migrants crossing the jungle have been subjected to thefts, rape and even murder.

Mayorkas said the US has significantly increased legal migration pathways "and we seek to continue to expand them as an alternative to the dangerous journey that too many take."

In February, around 40 migrants died in a bus crash in Panama while as many were killed in a fire at a detention center in Mexico at the end of March.

Most migrants crossing the Darien Gap are Venezuelans, Haitians and Ecuadorans but there are also significant numbers of Indians, Chinese and Africans.

W.Mansour--SF-PST