U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken signed a bilateral agreement with Panama on April 19 to create more “humane migration” as part of a joint focus on illegal immigration.
“Good partnerships are crucial if we are to promote safe, orderly, and humane migration,” Blinken said.
Blinken flew to Panama on April 19 to co-host an international conference to address the migration crisis emerging from the Darien Gap, a remote stretch of jungle wilderness that joins Panama and Colombia.
From this lawless jungle, thousands of migrants cross into Panama illegally as part of their journey toward the United States.
Blinken met with Panama’s President Laurentino Cortizo Cohen and Foreign Minister Erika Mouynes along with 20 other representatives from countries in the Western Hemisphere.