troops already in the countries - as few as 10 -to the Darien Gap to advise local forces. The officials said the most likely option for now would be to move a small number of U.S. officials, and plans could also involve agents from Customs and Border Protection. The goal is to find ways for both Colombia and Panama to slow down migration, according to the U.S. agencies already in the region, including the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations, part of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The troops could work with Colombian National Police and other U.S. The official said the Colombian National Police are anticipating the arrival of more U.S. Laura Richardson, visited the Darien Gap Monday to see the current situation there firsthand, according to a SOUTHCOM spokesperson.Ī senior official with the Colombian National Police said Richardson met with officials in Colombia, but did not give a number or time line for sending U.S. troops to focus more directly on the Darien Gap. The officials say Liz Sherwood-Randall, President Biden’s homeland security adviser, is one of the officials pushing for U.S. military personnel could also help support the construction of an operation center for the National Border Service. The training will focus primarily on border security, counter human smuggling, planning and logistics, counternarcotics and counter-transnational organized crime operations, and possibly targeting human traffickers. military has a Security Force Assistance Brigade working in the two countries, primarily advising local forces, but now administration officials are pushing to expand the training mission, including moving troops to the Darien Gap to advise Colombian and Panamanian forces about how to cut off the flow of people and drugs in the area, the officials said. Thousands of migrants attempt to cross from Colombia to Panama every year, often relying on smugglers to get them through the harsh terrain.
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