Panama reported this Friday “a drastic decrease in the flow of irregular migrants, mainly Venezuelans,” who arrive in the country through the Darién jungle, the border with Colombia, through which 208,866 people have entered so far this year, an unprecedented figure.

“In the last three days, only 2,292 people have entered through the irregular route, of which 624 are Venezuelan nationals, which indicates a drastic decrease in this type of migration,” the Ministry of Public Security (Minseg) said in a statement. , who cited data from the National Migration Service (SNM).

Last October there were unprecedented peaks in the migratory flow, with the entry per day of up to “3,000 and 4,000” irregular migrants, the vast majority Venezuelans, explained last Tuesday the head of the National Border Service (Senafront), Oriel Ortega .

But this Thursday “477 irregular migrants entered, of which 54 are Venezuelans, which indicates a considerable drop,” the official letter said.

The drop in the figure occurs after the United States Government announced on October 12 the rule that indicates that every Venezuelan who enters that country, having irregularly crossed the border of Mexico and Panama, will be expelled to the territory Mexican.

In addition, those expelled will be excluded from the program through which the United States will give legal status for two years to 24,000 Venezuelans who arrive by plane and with sponsors.

“So far in 2022, a record number of 208,866 people have entered the country” through the jungle, with a little more than two months remaining to end the year. Of that amount, 148,052 are Venezuelan nationals, “he said this Friday. the official Panamanian statement.

In October, “57,304 people who have entered the flow of irregular migrants were counted, of which 40,360 are Venezuelans,” the Minseg specified.

The dangerous Darien jungle has been an irregular migratory route for decades used by people from all over the world who travel to the United States, despite the serious dangers it entails due to its wild environment and the presence of organized crime groups.

The region has suffered several irregular migrant crises: Cubans between 2015 and 2016; of Haitians in 2021 and this 2022 of Venezuelans, all fleeing crises in their countries and with the intention of reaching the US.

Panama has installed migratory reception stations (ERM) on its borders with Colombia (south) and Costa Rica (north), where it takes irregular travelers to take their biometric data and offer them health and food services, an operation that has consumed more of 50 million dollars since 2020 according to official data.

In the migrant reception stations “there are 1,634 people, of which 1,123 are men, 230 women, 149 boys and 139 girls,” the official statement said Friday.

Irregular Venezuelan migrants are arriving at a temporary shelter of the Venezuelan Embassy, ​​located in the Panamanian capital, to manage their voluntary return to their country, after being forced to give up the “American dream” due to the new US regulations.