New Delhi: The perilous journey into the United States often involves navigating treacherous terrain across multiple countries, with one of the most dangerous routes being the Darien Gap—a vast, roadless jungle spanning 97 kilometers between Colombia and Panama. Despite its extreme conditions, this deadly passage has become a crucial gateway for thousands of migrants, including many Indians seeking to enter the US illegally.
The Darien Gap: A Ruthless Jungle Passage
The Darien Gap is the only break in the Pan-American Highway, the road network stretching from Alaska to Argentina. Comprising dense rainforests, steep mountains, and muddy swamplands, this region has long been avoided due to its harsh climate and lack of infrastructure. Yet, for those desperate to reach the US, it remains an unavoidable and treacherous crossing.
Migrants face extreme dangers, including venomous snakes, jaguars, and deadly insects. However, the greatest threats come from criminal organizations that control the route. Drug cartels, armed gangs, and human traffickers demand payments, rob travelers, and subject them to violence, making the journey even more harrowing.
The ‘Donkey Route’ Through the Darien Gap
Many Indians attempting to enter the US illegally follow what is known as the ‘donkey route.’ This involves flying to Central American countries such as Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Guatemala—where obtaining visas is relatively easy. From there, they travel to Mexico before making a dangerous attempt to cross the US border, often with the assistance of human smugglers, or ‘coyotes,’ who charge exorbitant fees for the treacherous journey.
With direct air travel to the US becoming increasingly difficult due to stricter visa regulations, this route has gained popularity. However, it also exposes migrants to extreme risks, as smugglers frequently abandon them in life-threatening conditions, leaving them vulnerable to starvation, disease, and violence.
Surging Migration Through the Darien Gap
The number of migrants crossing the Darien Gap has surged dramatically in recent years. In 2023 alone, over 5.2 lakh (520,000) migrants attempted the journey—more than double the number recorded the previous year. By early 2024, over 3 lakh (300,000) had already made the crossing, despite increased enforcement efforts.
A decade ago, only a few thousand people braved the Darien Gap annually. Today, it has transformed into a high-risk migration highway, attracting people from Venezuela, Haiti, Ecuador, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India. The journey, which can take anywhere from 7 to 15 days, is marked by food and water shortages, disease, and rampant crime. Many do not survive.
A Humanitarian Crisis Unfolds
The Darien Gap has become the epicenter of a growing humanitarian disaster. Between 2015 and 2022, 312 migrant deaths or disappearances were reported, with an additional 229 recorded between 2021 and 2023. In 2023 alone, Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) treated 676 sexual assault victims, with 233 cases already recorded in early 2024. Overcrowded shelters along the route struggle to provide food, water, and medical aid, leaving many migrants stranded and vulnerable.
Social media, often manipulated by smugglers, plays a significant role in encouraging migrants to take this perilous route, spreading misinformation about the journey’s safety and feasibility. Meanwhile, the increasing flow of migrants has placed immense pressure on indigenous communities along the route, while deforestation and pollution continue to devastate the fragile jungle ecosystem.
A Hub for Human Trafficking and Crime
The Darien Gap is not just a migration corridor; it is also a major hub for human trafficking and cartel operations. Colombia’s Gulf Clan, one of the country’s most powerful drug cartels, reportedly earned $57 million from migrant smuggling operations in the first 10 months of 2023 alone. These criminal networks exploit the desperation of migrants, charging hefty fees for passage while subjecting them to brutal conditions and extortion.
As the number of crossings continues to rise, authorities face mounting challenges in curbing illegal migration and combating the criminal enterprises that profit from it. With enforcement efforts tightening across various borders, the Darien Gap remains a deadly and unforgiving obstacle for those seeking a better life in the United States.
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