Panama Multi-Country Office: Monthly Operational Update (July – September 2024) – Panama
REGIONAL CONTEXT
During the third quarter of the year, Latin America, including countries under UNHCR’s Multi-Country Office (MCO) in Panama, experienced significant political changes. Despite some positive developments, these changes continued to impact mixed movements’ responses and asylum policies.
In Panama, José Raúl Mulino was inaugurated as the 2024-2029 President and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the US to curb irregular entries in Darien. By 30 September, 263,296 individuals had crossed the jungle, a 36 percent decrease from last year’s figures. Authorities attribute this drop to the Government’s stricter security measures and the start of a repatriation plan. By the end of September, officials had repatriated some 600 people from Colombia, Ecuador, and India.
Following Venezuela’s elections, Mulino also suspended diplomatic relations with this country, questioning Maduro’s win and advocating for a results review.
Suriname voted in favor of a resolution urging the revision of Venezuela’s election results during the special meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) Permanent Council. Guyana advocated for a transparent verification process of the Venezuelan elections and supported the proposed resolution. At the fifty-fourth OAS General Assembly, Guyana encouraged all member states to work together to maintain the region as a zone of peace.
Aruban authorities announced that election results had severed diplomatic ties with Venezuela. The aerial border closure will be extended until November. A new policy for managing temporary residency and work permits took effect on 1 August, addressing labour shortages. In September, the coalition between Movimiento Electoral di Pueblo (MEP) and Raiz collapsed, with new elections scheduled for December 2024.
Curaçao is officially an associate member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The Government coalition fell in August, allegedly due to a disagreement between the Movement for the Future of Curaçao (MFK) and Partido Nacional di Pueblo (PNP) on unpaid tax exemptions.
In Nicaragua, Ortega’s Regime revoked the legal status of 1,500 NGOs and ordered the transfer of their assets to the state. Since the start of the 2018 protests, authorities have shut down more than 5,000 civil society groups, private universities, and media outlets. OHCHR stated the country faces a significant escalation of human rights abuses and calls authorities to respect fundamental freedoms.
In Cuba, the National Assembly approved new immigration and citizenship laws, introducing a humanitarian resident category for refugees, stateless persons and asylum-seekers.
Three UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteurs urged removing Cuba from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism, as it hinders the country’s access to financial and humanitarian aid. In September, Hurricane Helene impacted thousands, damaging infrastructure and agriculture and worsening power and water shortages.
The US State Department’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Western Hemisphere visited Belize and commended the country for its leadership in establishing regularization pathways for refugees and migrants. The official stated that Belize has significantly contributed to the region and highlighted Belize’s involvement in the LA Declaration.
In Trinidad and Tobago, the Ministry of Public Security announced that the fifth tranche of Minister’s Permits for Venezuelans under the Migrant Registration Framework (MRF) is ready for collection. On 2 September, 23 refugee and migrant children enrolled in the national school system, marking a historic milestone. An amendment to the Immigration Act allows Venezuelans under 18, whose parents or guardians are registered in the MRF, to enroll in national schools, subject to space availability and completion of a Student Permit Exemption. Authorities have approved 111 permits. More refugee and migrant children are expected to be enrolled in the coming months.