Panama's Role and Impacts on Indigenous Communities

Panama's government does not actively close its borders, as most migrants passing through the Darien Gap do not intend to stay in the country. Officials expedite the migrants' transit through Panama, quickly transporting them to Costa Rica without stamping their passports. This approach allows Panama to avoid long-term solutions for the migrants. However, the massive foot traffic through the gap has negative impacts on indigenous tribes, as it empowers local gangs and leads to environmental degradation, with campsites turning into landfill slums. The situation along the Darien Gap could easily turn from calm to desperate.