Caitlin Dickerson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for The Atlantic, delves into her gripping experiences in the Darién Gap, a perilous jungle route frequented by migrants risking everything to reach the U.S. She shares harrowing tales of families, especially children, facing extreme dangers in their quest for safety. The discussion highlights the complex migration landscape, including the influence of organized crime and misconceptions surrounding migration. Dickerson emphasizes the urgent need to humanize migrant stories amidst a polarized immigration debate.
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Quick takeaways
The Darién Gap, a treacherous jungle crossing, has become a perilous route for migrants risking their lives to reach the U.S.
The polarized U.S. political landscape on immigration, featuring stark contrasts between Trump and Harris, complicates the search for humane solutions.
Deep dives
The Increasing Attraction of the Darien Gap
The Darien Gap, once considered impassable, is now a common route for migrants seeking to reach the United States due to the rise in global displacement. This route is extremely dangerous, characterized by harsh terrain, unpredictable weather, and threats of violence, resulting in many casualties. In 2022 alone, over half a million people attempted the crossing, with a significant number being Venezuelans fleeing political instability. The growing number of migrants is reflective of broader global crises, including climate change and political oppression, pushing people to take perilous journeys as safer routes have become increasingly restricted.
Challenges Faced by Migrants
Migrants traversing the Darien Gap face not only natural hazards but also significant risks from violence and exploitation. While Colombian territories may have some level of order under the Gulf Clan, once migrants cross into Panama, they encounter a lawless environment with rampant crime. Reports indicate that indigenous Panamanians, driven by economic despair, have turned to violent acts against migrants, exacerbating their vulnerability. Additionally, the journey tests physical limits, with many children suffering immensely or losing their lives in the process, showcasing the dire circumstances that compel these families to risk everything.
Political Narratives and Immigration Policy
The current political landscape in the U.S. surrounding immigration is deeply polarized, with contrasting narratives from figures like Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Trump capitalizes on fear, promoting a hostile approach to immigration, while Harris, in turn, acknowledges a crisis but suggests a continued crackdown on immigration policy. Public perception is shaped by misinformation and stereotypes, leading to growing unfounded fears and hostility towards migrants. As election day approaches, both parties are pressured to address immigration with real solutions grounded in facts rather than fear, yet substantive progress remains elusive amid a backdrop of rising tensions.
NOTE: In yesterday’s episode, we promised to bring you a conversation with a man who’s spent the last year in Gaza, both living through and reporting on Israel’s military campaign there. We were logistically unable to bring you that today, but we will do so as soon as we possibly can.
For decades, the Darién Gap, a jungle crossing straddling the Colombia and Panama border, was considered impossible to cross.
Today, it’s a path that many migrants take, risking their lives, to try and make it to the United States. Eight hundred thousand people are expected to use it this year, nearly 200,000 of them are children.
This is all happening at a time when immigration is among the most pressing issues for voters in the upcoming U.S election, with presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
The Atlantic’s Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Caitlin Dickerson recently took three trips to the Darién Gap over the course of five months.
She spoke to host Jayme Poisson about her report, Seventy miles in hell, which focuses the experiences of those caught in the middle of this ongoing immigration debate.