Numbers of Afghans, Chinese coming through key migrant crossing surged since 2021: report
The Darien Gap, a key migrant crossing linking Panama and Colombia, has seen a dramatic increase in nationals from countries like Afghanistan, China, and Iran in the last four years, according to a new report by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). The report, which advocates for lower levels of immigration, compared migration numbers from 2021-2024 to those from 2010-2020.
Statistics from Panama show a significant rise in the number of migrants passing through the Darien Gap. Afghans increased from 98 to 8,294, Chinese nationals from 299 to 39,921, Iranians from 14 to 935, and Syrians from 28 to 762. Overall, the total number of migrants increased from 115,758 to 1.18 million in the specified time frames.
There are concerns about nationals from Afghanistan and China entering the U.S. due to potential espionage or terror threats. Lawmakers have raised alarms about Chinese nationals engaging in espionage under the direction of the CCP, while an Afghan national was caught planning a terror plot after being paroled into the U.S. following the Afghanistan withdrawal in 2021.
The report attributes the crisis in Panama to “open border policies” in the U.S., which incentivize migrants to undertake dangerous journeys to reach the United States. It argues that migrants believe they will be released into the country once they reach the U.S. border.
The report also highlights encounters with nationals from “special interest” countries, including those linked to terror groups like Hezbollah. It notes that over half of the migrants who crossed the Darien Gap were adult men. The top nationalities encountered in 2024 were Venezuelans, Colombians, Ecuadorians, Chinese, and Haitians.
Panama recently elected a new president who campaigned on ending illegal migration through the Darien Gap. An agreement with the U.S. was signed, with the U.S. government covering the costs of repatriating migrants who entered through the area. Despite U.S. assistance, FAIR suggests that a permanent solution to the crisis can only come from changes in American immigration policy to deter illegal migration.
Overall, the report underscores the challenges posed by the influx of migrants through the Darien Gap and the need for comprehensive solutions to address the situation effectively.