Panamanian authorities arrested 44 migrants early Saturday morning after a brawl broke out at the shelter, destroying a modular shelter unit and 10 vehicles, according to an official statement.
Sources said an altercation broke out between two female migrants over a tent at a temporary immigration reception center in San Vicente. statement Panama's National Immigration Office Migración Panamá (MP) shared it on Facebook.
“Partners of both migrants intervened in the incident, which led to a violent fight between the different groups present,” the statement said. Panamanian border authorities and Senafront forces tried to restore order, but “approximately 250 other migrants… [went against] “The deployment of Senafront forces expands the deployment of our forces to protect the lives of third parties,” the statement said.
The evacuation center suffered “severe damage,” the statement said.
“Illegal immigrants caused severe damage to the San Vicente shelter, where they destroyed official and civilian vehicles, set at least 10 modular units on fire, and also destroyed the MIGRATION unit and SENAFRONT in the base's operations center. They also destroyed the unit’s modular units,” the newspaper said. MP tweeted. The post also included photos of what appears to be a burnt-out modular trailer and an official pickup truck with deflated tires.
“So far, approximately 44 undocumented immigrants who took part in these acts of vandalism have been identified and detained and will be investigated and prosecuted at the Ministry of Public Affairs for damage to state property. ” said the lawmaker's statement.
The impact of irregular migration in the Alberg of San Vicente, the sabotage of civil society, the increase of 10 modules and military operations in the centers of migration and central government. pic.twitter.com/DA54UmFWyd
— Migracion Panama (@migracionpanama) March 2, 2024
There were no casualties, authorities said in a statement. (Related: Illegal Immigrant Charged with Infant Killing, ICE Spox Speaks After Multiple Previous Arrests)
The San Vicente Refuge is “one of the most modern and dignified facilities” with “basic services that provide humanitarian care to this population” and “a capacity to accommodate approximately 500 people.” The lawmaker said in a statement. The evacuation center is located in Darien province, the parliamentarian added via Facebook.
Samira Gozain, Director General of Panama's National Immigration Service, said: Said This vandalism resulted in more than $800,000 in losses.
800 million dollars in losses and the occurrence of irregular migration, Metete Darién center in San Vicente, Madrugada de Este 2 in Marso, DG del SNM information, Samira Gozein. pic.twitter.com/12VxEuRb9g
— Migracion Panama (@migracionpanama) March 2, 2024
In 2022, about 250,000 illegal immigrants crossed the 60-mile Darien Gorge, which cuts through 100,000 square miles of rugged terrain across southern Panama and northern Colombia, north to the United States. according to to Human Rights Watch. In contrast, the organization reported more than 130,000 migrants crossed in 2021, compared with an average of fewer than 11,000 migrants per year from 2010 to 2020.
According to the group, by July 2023, the number of crossings will have exceeded 250,000.
More than 520,000 migrants will cross the gap by end of 2023, a quarter of them minors, Reuters report. Migrants from countries such as Ecuador, Haiti and China, as well as economic migrants from Venezuela, reportedly contributed to the surge.
Gozein reportedly called the situation a “national security issue.”
