Panama’s next president wants a deal with US on deporting migrants who cross the perilous Darien Gap

LAJAS BLANCAS, Panama (AP) — Panama's President-elect José Raúl Mulino announced on Friday that he wants an agreement with the United States on deporting migrants who cross into the world's busiest migration route, the perilous Darien Gap, along his country's border with Colombia.

In a visit to the jungle region, Mulino said he will discuss the possible deal with a U.S. delegation, led by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, that's expected to attend his inauguration next week.

The 65-year-old lawyer, who will take the reins of Panama on Monday, promised during his campaign to shut down the Darien Gap, calling the daily crossings "an odyssey that does not have a reason to exist.”

More than half a million people traversed the corridor last year and some 186,000 people are estimated to have crossed so far in 2024, with most of the migrants hailing from Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia and China.

Until now, Panama has helped speedily bus the migrants across its territory so they can continue their journey north — and reports of abuses, human rights violations and testimonies of deaths along the route have persisted.

“I hope to sign a respectful and dignified agreement with the United States so the two countries can begin the repatriation processes of all these people who are accumulated here,” Mulino said during the visit on Friday.

He did not elaborate on the details of such an agreement or say how the migrants would be deported t their home countries.

“I’ve seen other crises in the Darien, but this is the worst I’ve seen. It breaks my heart to see children my grandchildren's age ask me for a bottle of water,” he told a news conference at the migrant camp of Lajas Blancas.

The migrant route through the narrow isthmus grew exponentially in popularity in recent years with the help of criminal gangs and migrant smugglers who made it an affordable, if dangerous, pathway for hundreds of thousands of people.

The popularity of the Darien also grew after countries, under pressure from the U.S. government, imposed visa restrictions on various nationalities including Venezuelans and Peruvians in an attempt to stop migrants flying into the country just to continue on toward the U.S. border.

Still, masses of people took the challenge and set out on foot through the jungle spanning the Colombian-Panamanian border. A crossing that initially could take a week or more was whittled down to two or three days as the path became more established and entrepreneurial locals set up a range of support services.

Mulino, who was accompanied by members of his future Cabinet, visited a temporary reception center where thousands of migrants arrive every week, including pregnant women and children.

On Thursday night, migrants staying in the camp of Lajas Blancas after crossing the Darien, recounted their economic and security difficulties, and several expressed their support of Mulino's plans to close the migration route.

“He (Mulino) will have to close it,” said Pedro Monte, a Venezuelan migrant who lost his wife on the way to the Darien Gap. "It’s the most dangerous thing ... there are thieves, there are deaths, it’s a pity that people lose their lives there.”

Mulino has said he will deport migrants who continue crossing the Darien, but experts caution it will be a difficult — and expensive — task.

“With the government we have (in Venezuela) we never had a life,” another migrant, Jorbys Ocampo, told The Associated Press.

He left his family and eight-year-old daughter in Venezuela's coastal city of Maracaibo. “My daughter was born with a heart problem. There are no supplies, there is no money, there is not enough for anything.”

“It would be good if they gave more legal ways for people to migrate and to not have to make this terrible journey,” Ocampo said.

Asked what would happen if they close the Darien Gap, he said, “If they close it on one side, it will open on another.”

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Chinese migrant Liu Tiantian, second from left, sits on a bus to Costa Rica after walking across the Darien Gap with her father and brother in Lajas Blancas, Panama, Thursday, June 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Migrants wait to board a bus to the Panamanian-Costa Rican border in a temporary camp after having crossed the Darien Gap from Colombia in Lajas Blancas, Panama, Thursday, June 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Venezuelan migrant Nelsy Zavala, right, embraces fellow Venezuelan migrant Yeikel Mojica, whom she met while crossing the Darien Gap and says was like a little brother to her, in a temporary camp in Lajas Blancas, Panama, Thursday, June 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Venezuelan migrant Minorca Parra holds her daughter Karin Alvear as she lines up to receive food in a temporary camp after crossing the Darien Gap from Colombia in Lajas Blancas, Panama, Thursday, June 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Panamanian President-elect Jose Raul Mulino studies a sign that explains the process migrants go through to enter a camp where they arrive after walking across the Darien Gap from Colombia, in Lajas Blancas, Panama, Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Venezuelan migrant Nathaly Rojas shields herself from the sun with her children in a temporary camp after crossing the Darien Gap from Colombia in Lajas Blancas, Panama, Thursday, June 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Panamanian President-elect Jose Raul Mulino gives a thumbs up to migrants waiting in line to eat as he tours the camp where migrants stop temporarily after walking across the Darien Gap from Colombia, in Lajas Blancas, Panama, Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Venezuelan migrant Jorbys Ocampo rests inside a tent in a temporary camp after crossing the Darien Gap from Colombia in Lajas Blancas, Panama, Thursday, June 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Migrants line up to receive food in a temporary camp after walking across the Darien Gap from Colombia in Lajas Blancas, Panama, Thursday, June 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Panamanian President-elect Jose Raul Mulino, second from left, exits a helicopter at a camp where migrants stop temporarily for food and shelter after walking across the Darien Gap from Colombia, in Lajas Blancas, Panama, Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Panamanian President-elect Jose Raul Mulino speaks with a Venezuelan migrant, left, and other migrants at a camp after they walked across the Darien Gap from Colombia, in Lajas Blancas, Panama, Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

LEIPZIG, Germany (AP) — Austria is bidding to go farther than it ever has at a European Championship when it takes on Turkey in the round of 16. The Austrians surprisingly topped a group ahead of France and the Netherlands and are bullish about progressing to the quarterfinals under German coach Ralf Rangnick. Turkey has shown signs of individual brilliance but is yet to click at Euro 2024 and will be without suspended captain Hakan Calhanoglu. Kickoff is at 9 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) on Tuesday. Here’s what to know about the match:

— Turkey reached the semifinals of Euro 2008 and is looking for another deep run in the tournament. But Italian coach Vincenzo Montella’s team struggled to beat 10-man Czech Republic in the last game and was beaten 3-0 by Portugal before that. Turkey qualified for the knockout stage as runner-up in Group F.

— Austria recovered from an opening 1-0 loss to France by beating Poland 3-1 and then the Netherlands 3-2 to top Group D.

— Calhanoglu and defender Samet Akaydin are suspended for Turkey because of an accumulation of yellow cards, while 10 of its players – including Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz – are in danger of missing the next match if booked.

— Austria will be without suspended defender Patrick Wimmer, while eight players including captain Marko Arnautovic are in danger of suspension.

— Austria and Turkey played a friendly in Vienna in March, when Austria won 6-1.

— Turkey defeated Austria 6-0 on aggregate in a playoff to reach the 2002 World Cup, where the team went on to finish third.

— Austria lost only one of its 10 qualifying games for Euro 2024 and lost only once last year. Rangnick’s team has won 14 of its last 19 matches, losing just two.

— Turkey came into Euro 2024 without a win in five matches.

— Austria has never been involved in a competitive penalty shootout, while Turkey defeated Croatia 4-2 in a shootout in the Euro 2008 quarterfinals.

— Both captains, Calhanoglu and Arnautovic, helped Inter Milan win Serie A last season.

— Austria’s Marcel Sabitzer and Turkey’s Salih Ozcan are Borussia Dortmund teammates, while Turkey defender Mert Muldur was born in Vienna. The Fenerbahce player was in the youth ranks of Rapid Vienna with Austria players Niklas Hedl and Leopold Querfeld.

— If Austria wins, it could mean a quick rematch in Berlin against the Dutch. The winner of this game will play the Netherlands or Romania in the quarterfinals on Saturday.

— Turkey had concerns about Real Madrid star Arda Guler during the group stage, but the 19-year-old attacking midfielder played from the start in the final group game and should be fit.

— Rangnick reported no late injury worries on Monday. Real Madrid defender David Alaba, who would have been captain, is missing the tournament as he recovers from a knee injury.

— Austria has a better record with nine wins to Turkey’s seven from their previous 17 meetings. There was one draw.

— Austria’s six goals at Euro 2024 have all come from different players.

— Austria is playing in the Euros for the fourth time and the third in succession. Its campaign was ended in the last 16 by eventual champion Italy in the last edition.

— Turkey is making its sixth tournament appearance, and third in succession.

— It will be Turkey’s first game in Leipzig.

“They are a very tough team who apply a lot of pressure. In the friendly there, we couldn’t respond to their pressure. I see this more as just another match rather than a chance for revenge. We want to win this match; even if it’s 1-0, it needs to be ours. We need to eliminate them and move forward.” — Turkey defender Zeki Celik.

“It doesn’t matter to us if our opponents are Austria or another country, to be honest. It wouldn’t be right to see this as an opportunity for revenge. Excessive ambition could backfire on us. We should keep both feet on the ground and do everything we can to win the game.” — Turkey goalkeeper Mert Gunok.

“The team knows full well that no matter who we play against, if we give our best performance, we can beat any opponent. But the players are still completely grounded and know exactly what’s important. The energy we bring to the field is what has made us a special team so far.” — Austria coach Ralf Rangnick.

AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024

Turkey's Kerem Akturkoglu, right, celebrates with his teammate Arda Guler after scoring his side's third goal during a Group F match between Turkey and Georgia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Turkey's Kerem Akturkoglu, bottom, celebrates with his teammate Arda Guler after scoring his side's third goal during a Group F match between Turkey and Georgia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Turkey's Arda Guler gestures during a Group F match between Czech Republic and Turkey at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Hamburg, Germany, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. Turkey won 2-1. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Austria's Marcel Sabitzer (9) scores a goal past Micky van de Ven of the Netherlands (15) during a Group D match at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

Austria's Marcel Sabitzer celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during a Group D match between the Netherlands and Austria at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (Michael Kappeler/dpa via AP)

Austria's Marcel Sabitzer, right, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during a Group D match between the Netherlands and Austria at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (Michael Kappeler/dpa via AP)