Migrants banned from Albrook terminal
THE ALBROOK Bus Terminal has closed its doors to migrants arriving from Darien because their increasing presence is upsetting regular users.
Benjamin Solis, the terminal’s director of operations said, that check points have been set up to prevent access for buses carrying migrants on the Darien-Panama route.
He said that a meeting with staff of the Joint Task Force concluded that the presence of foreigners from Haiti, Cuba and the African continent generated “insecurity” and “discomfort” among regular users of the terminal.
The Government decided to set up a temporary station for migrants in parking facilities at the Cold Chain, in Ancon.
José Donderis, director of the National Civil Protection System (Sinaproc) said that migrants are moved to an area where they are kept about 30 minutes to bathe,and change, and are offered food and water.
Later, they are transferred to another bus to take them to Paso Canoas, on the boarder between Panama and Costa Rica, so they can continue their journey and reach their final destination, the United States.
He said that in the framework of the strategy of having a “controlled flow” of migrants, connections with the business sector were made for a money exchange in Darien so that they are not forced to reach the Albrook area.
Transport companies, from Chiriqui and Darien, will establish a flat rate of $50 for the circuit from border to border, with a stopover in Clayton.
“We understand the situation, and that is why we have acted responsibly, providing humanitarian assistance and ensuring the safety of Panamanians,” said Donderis.
Javier Carrillo, director general of the National Immigration Service, said that currently there are about 2,000 migrants located on the Panamanian isthmus and three shelters have been set up in Darien, where they take general data, including fingerprints photos and iris scans.
Migrants entering “illegally” because they have no travel documents, have to leave the country within 72 hours, or be deported.
