More than 14,000 people, primarily Venezuelans, reversed course and traveled south after US immigration policy changed under Donald Trump. Reverse flow migration consists mostly of Venezuelans who fled economic, social and political crises and then found US asylum routes closed. Darien Gap crossings peaked in 2023 with over half a million people, slowed in 2024 and nearly stopped early this year. Governments of Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica, with UN human rights support, reported a 97% drop in northward migration. Interviews found 97% of returnees were Venezuelan; about half planned to return home, citing loss of legal access to the US.
More than 14,000 people, mainly Venezuelans, who hoped to reach the US have reversed course and turned south since the start of Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, according to a report by the governments of Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica. The phenomenon, known as reverse flow migration, is largely made up of Venezuelans who fled the country's long-running economic, social and political crises only to encounter US immigration policy no longer open to asylum seekers.
Migration through the treacherous Darien Gap on the border of Colombia and Panama peaked in 2023 when more than half a million people crossed. It slowed somewhat in 2024, but ceased almost completely early this year. The report, published on Friday with the support of the UN high commissioner for human rights, said that northward migration had dropped 97% this year.
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