[ti:US, Panama, Colombia Announce New Campaign to Stop Illegal Migration]
[al:As It Is]
[ar:VOA]
[dt:2023-04-16]
[by:www.voase.cn]
[00:00.00]The United States, Panama and Colombia have announced a new campaign designed to reduce traffic on a big illegal migration route.
[00:13.21]The effort is to center on an area known as the Darién Gap, a jungle area in Colombia and Panama.
[00:24.16]Representatives from the three countries announced plans for the two-month campaign after high-level talks.
[00:33.00]U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas recently met with the foreign ministers of Panama and Colombia in Panama to discuss the issue.
[00:48.74]The representatives released a joint statement.
[00:52.76]They said their campaign aims to end the illegal movement of people and goods through the area. 
[01:01.77]The effort is also meant to open additional pathways for people to lawfully migrate.
[01:10.55]Official migration data from Panama shows there were nearly 90,000 illegal crossings through the Darién Gap in the first three months of 2023.
[01:24.83]Most of the migrants came from Venezuela, Haiti and Ecuador.
[01:31.17]That is more than six times the number recorded during the same period last year.
[01:38.42]Officials from the three countries also promised to carry out a plan to reduce poverty. 
[01:47.32]They said they would create jobs in border communities.
[01:52.24]A high-level official in the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden recently told The Associated Press that U.S. forces will assist Colombian and Panamanian efforts.
[02:08.10]They will help stop smugglers operating in the Darién Gap.
[02:14.60]Last year, a record number of migrants used the Darien route.
[02:20.11]The number reached nearly 250,000.
[02:24.33]Venezuelans represented much of the increase. 
[02:28.99]That group made up about 60 percent of the migrants crossing the area last year.
[02:36.50]In October, the Biden administration decided to use a pandemic-related rule, found in the part of U.S. law called Title 42, to prevent Venezuelans from requesting asylum at the U.S. border. 
[02:55.41]Instead, the U.S. government said it would accept up to 24,000 Venezuelans at U.S. airports who had already sought and been pre-approved through an online government program.
[03:12.59]Earlier this year, that program began including Nicaraguans, Haitians and Cubans.
[03:20.51]But the Title 42 rule is set to end next month. 
[03:25.90]So, the U.S. wants to block illegal migration at the Darién Gap.
[03:32.81]The Darién Gap is among the most dangerous parts of the long path to reach the U.S. border from South America. 
[03:43.04]Migrants and international human rights groups have denounced sexual attacks, robberies and killings in the jungle area. 
[03:54.09]In addition, there are natural dangers, including poisonous snakes and fast-running rivers.
[04:02.50]The Panamanian government and nongovernmental groups transport migrants across Panama to near its border with Costa Rica by bus. 
[04:15.16]From there, the migrants continue their trip northward.
[04:20.67]I'm Bryan Lynn.