Soaring Migration: Latin America’s Complex Challenge in 2024

There has been a significant increase in the number of migrants crossing the Darien region in Panama, with 109,069 people entering between January 1 and March 31, 2024. The highest nationalities with entries include Venezuelans, Ecuadorians, Haitians, and Colombians.

In Honduras, there has been an increase of 125.6% in the number of migrants compared to the same period in 2023. The majority of migrants are Venezuelans, Cubans, Haitians, and Ecuadorians. In Colombia, statistics show that out of all Venezuelan migrants in the country, over 50% are women and fall within the productive age group of 18 to 39 years old. Many of these migrants have been granted Temporary Protection Permits (PPT), which provide access to essential services such as identification, health, education, and justice.

Cuba has seen an increase in its nationals being repatriated from various countries in the region. Between January and March 2024 alone, 276 Cubans were returned to their homeland through 22 operations. Meanwhile, Ecuador reports an average of 400 Ecuadorians crossing the border irregularly every day with a monthly total of approximately 17,000. A significant number of these migrants entering the US face deportation due to their illegal entry methods.

Overall, it is clear that migration remains a complex issue across many countries in Latin America and beyond. As governments continue to grapple with this issue head-on