[LAUREN TAYLOR]

LAST YEAR, MORE THAN 500,000 PEOPLE CROSSED THE DARIÉN GAP on the PANAMA-COLOMBIA BORDER —

THAT SERVES AS A MAJOR PASSAGE FOR U.S.-BOUND MIGRANTS.

THE JUNGLE ROUTE IS A MAJOR ISSUE FOR POLITICIANS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA, AS WELL AS THE U.S. — AND FOR ONE the PANAMANIAN PRESIDENTIAL FRONTRUNNER.

THE ISSUE COULD BE KEY TO WINNING OFFICE.

PANAMA’S PRESIDENTIAL FRONTRUNNER, JOSÉ RAÚL MULINO, HAS PLEDGED TO CLOSE THE DANGEROUS ROUTE, WHICH IS A HOTSPOT FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY

MULINO — PANAMA’S FORMER SECURITY MINISTER — Telling REPORTERS about THE MIGRATION PRESSURES FACED BY PANAMA:

“The border of the United States, instead of being in Texas, moved to Panama. We’re going to close the Darién and we’re going to repatriate all these people.”

MULINO BELIEVES SHUTTING IT DOWN COULD CONTROL MIGRATION — AND HE PROMISES TO DO IT HUMANELY.

BUT THERE ARE SERIOUS CHALLENGES.

THE COLOMBIAN SIDE OF THE DARIÉN GAP IS TIGHTLY CONTROLLED BY THE GULF CLAN DRUG CARTEL — WHILE THE PANAMANIAN SIDE IS MORE CHAOTIC AND LAWLESS — AND EXPOSES MIGRANTS TO ROBBERY AND ASSAULT AT THE HANDS OF ARMED BANDITS.

HOWEVER, GROUPS LIKE “HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH” ARGUE THAT CLOSING THE GAP IS UNREALISTIC —”VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE.”

THE AMERICAS DEPUTY DIRECTOR for HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH SAYS IT COULD PUSH MIGRANTS TOWARD EVEN MORE DANGEROUS ROUTES.

CRITICS SUGGEST MULINO’S TOUGH STANCE MIGHT BE INTENDED TO RESONATE WITH U.S. POLITICAL NARRATIVES.

WITH MULINO SAYING THAT IF DONALD TRUMP RETURNS TO THE PRESIDENCY, HE WOULD REQUEST HIS HELP TO “ADD SOME CEMENT” FOR BUILDING ANOTHER WALL BETWEEN PANAMA AND COLOMBIA.

REUTERS REPORTS MULINO LEADS SIGNIFICANTLY IN POLLS. HE’S ONE OF EIGHT CANDIDATES COMPETING IN THE UPCOMING MAY 5TH PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.