A new report by the governments of Colombia, Panama, and Costa Rica — supported by the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights — shows a sharp reversal in migration trends. More than 14,000 migrants who had been heading north toward the United States have now turned back, citing President Donald Trump’s strict border enforcement policies.
The report describes this as a new phenomenon of “reverse flow” migration. It notes that northward migration has fallen by 97% this year, following Trump’s fulfillment of his campaign promise to secure the border.
Migrants Cite Policy as Main Reason
Among those interviewed, 46% said U.S. policy changes were the reason they turned back, while 49% said they could not enter the country. Another 34% ran out of resources, and 17% feared detention or deportation.
The shift comes after record numbers attempted to cross in recent years. Migration through the Darién Gap — the dangerous jungle corridor between Colombia and Panama — peaked in 2023, with more than half a million crossings. That flow slowed in 2024 and has now dropped dramatically.
Border Crossings Hit Record Lows
According to U.S. Border Patrol, apprehensions on the southwest border fell to an all-time low of 4,399 in July. This was the third consecutive month with no releases into the country. By comparison, under President Joe Biden, there were multiple days with 8,000 to 10,000 apprehensions. December 2023 marked Biden’s highest single month, with 249,785 apprehensions.
Migrants Stranded or Returning
Roughly half of those interviewed in Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia said they planned to return to Venezuela, while about a quarter said they would settle in Colombia. Others reported uncertainty about their next steps.
Some migrants remain stranded in towns such as Palenque, Necoclí, and Medellín, with limited access to food, shelter, or medical care. Humanitarian groups warned of risks including violence, exploitation, and reliance on smugglers.
More important than a secure border is the lack of incentives.
The corrupt Democrat and Establishment Elites were literally paying them to come here illegally.