The acting U.S. Homeland Security secretary has visited a camp with hundreds of migrants who survived the perilous jungle border crossing from Colombia to Panama.
Kevin McAleenan arrived in Penitas shortly before midday Friday and was briefed on the camp's operations and the physical conditions of those who crossed the region known as the Darien Gap.
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The acting U.S. Homeland Security secretary has visited a camp with hundreds of migrants who survived the perilous jungle border crossing from Colombia to Panama.
Panamanian authorities estimate that more than 10,000 people have crossed through Darien so far this year. It's a roadless, lawless place where stories abound of migrants suffering robbery, sexual assault or murder during the trek.
Two migrant children walk on a street in the Peñitas Humanitarian camp prior a visit of Acting U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan, in Peñitas, Panama, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)
A dog walks past a line of Panama Border police officers, prior a visit of Acting U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan, to the Peñitas Humanitarian camp in Peñitas, Panama, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)
A migrant woman carries a girl as she walks between two Panama Border Police officers, at the Peñitas Humanitarian camp, prior a visit of Acting U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan, in Peñitas, Panama, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)
Migrants wait for medical attention in the Peñitas Humanitarian camp, prior a visit of Acting U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan, in Peñitas, Panama, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)
Migrants rest in the Peñitas Humanitarian camp prior a visit of Acting U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan, in Peñitas, Panama, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)
He did not interact with the migrants, who come mostly from Haiti, Cuba, Africa or Asia.
A migrant carries a girl at a street in the Peñitas Humanitarian camp prior a visit of Acting U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan, in Peñitas, Panama, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)
Panamanian authorities estimate that more than 10,000 people have crossed through Darien so far this year. It's a roadless, lawless place where stories abound of migrants suffering robbery, sexual assault or murder during the trek.
McAleenan's visit came on the last day of a three-day trip to Panama.
A group of migrants rest on the ground in the Peñitas Humanitarian camp prior a visit of Acting U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan, in Peñitas, Panama, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)
Two migrant children walk on a street in the Peñitas Humanitarian camp prior a visit of Acting U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan, in Peñitas, Panama, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)
A dog walks past a line of Panama Border police officers, prior a visit of Acting U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan, to the Peñitas Humanitarian camp in Peñitas, Panama, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)
A migrant woman carries a girl as she walks between two Panama Border Police officers, at the Peñitas Humanitarian camp, prior a visit of Acting U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan, in Peñitas, Panama, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)
Migrants wait for medical attention in the Peñitas Humanitarian camp, prior a visit of Acting U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan, in Peñitas, Panama, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)
Migrants rest in the Peñitas Humanitarian camp prior a visit of Acting U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan, in Peñitas, Panama, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoArnulfo Franco)