The United States recently deported 104 Indian migrants, handcuffed and returned to India for a 24 -hour flight. After the rift of US President Donald Trump on illegal immigration, there was exile, a subject he recently discussed a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, AP said.
Illegal travel in the US often involves dangerous crossings through many countries, including a vast, roadless forest that connects Colombia and Panama.
What is Darien Difference?
The Darren Gap is 97 km of dense rainforest, swamp and mountains. This is the only break in the Pan -American highway – a road system extending from Alaska to Argentina. This impregnable region has long been saved due to its extreme terrain, harsh climate and lack of infrastructure. But for migrants to reach America, it has become an indispensable entrance.
People facing the Darian gap cross the steep mountains, the dirty swamplands, the fast -moving rivers and dangerous wildlife. The forest is home to poisonous snakes, Jaguar and deadly insects. However, the most important threats are from criminal organizations that control the route. Trafficking networks, drug cartel, and armed groups demand payment, ROB migrants, or subjugate them to violence.
‘Donkey route’ through deren gap
Many Indians who attempted to enter the US are illegally known as the ‘donkey route’. This includes traveling to countries such as Central American countries such as Panama, Costa Rica, Al Salvador and Guatemala, where it is easy to get visas. From there, they make their way to Mexico and then try to enter the US, often with the help of coeots (human smugglers) who charge thousands of dollars for dangerous crossings.
This method has become increasingly popular because direct air routes become difficult for America due to strict visa rules. Smugglers, mafia gangs, and organized crime syndicates take advantage of these migrants, promise them safe routes but often leave them in a state of life.
A measure of migrants crossing the derian gap
In recent years, the number of people crossing the Darren Gap has skyrocketed. In 2023, more than 5.2 lakh migrants traveled – twice the figure from last year. By 2024, more than 3 lakhs had already been exceeded, although the number had declined slightly due to an increase in enforcement efforts, the Reuters reported.
A decade ago, only a few thousand people tried to cross this annually. Today, it has turned into a high -risk migration highway with the people of Venezuela, Haiti, Ecuador, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India, creating a dangerous trek. The journey can be taken anywhere for 7 to 15 days, in which migrants may face food and water scarcity, disease and large -scale crime. Many are not alive.
Humanitarian crisis in deren gap
The Darren Gap remains a human disaster, with 312 migrant deaths or disappearance, more than 2015-2022 and 229 to 2021 and 2023. In 2023, alone, MSF (Medicine Sans Frontier, also known as doctors’ without borders) treated 676 sexual assaults. With 233 cases recorded in early 2024. Crowd shelters have necessary deficiency such as food, water and medical aid, causing many migrants to be stuck. Social media misinformation, often powered by smugglers, fuel crossing.
Along with more migrants using this route, the impact on local communities and environment has also been disastrous. Indigenous villages along the route are overwhelmed by people, while deforestation and pollution are deteriorating in delicate forest ecosystems.
The region is also a major center for human trafficking and cartel activity. The Gulf clan of Colombia controls the operation of smuggling, one of the most powerful drug cartel. He allegedly earned $ 57 million from migrant crossings in the first 10 months of 2023.
