Hundreds of migrants who once risked death crossing Central America's Darien Gap are now reversing their journeys, fleeing President Trump's dismantling of asylum pathways. New boat routes through Panama's Guna Yala territory reveal a desperate reverse migration flow as hopes for legal U.S. entry evaporate.
Karla Castillo, a 36-year-old Venezuelan mother, typifies this trend.
When Trump eliminated the CBP One app, our American dream burned out,she told reporters while awaiting transport to Colombia. Like Castillo, many spent years building lives in Chile and other South American nations before attempting northward migration.
Panamanian authorities report these key developments:
- 20-25 migrants per boat paying $200-$250 for return trips
- 1,100+ weekly reverse crossings tracked by Costa Rica
- 1 child death confirmed in February capsize incident
The collapse of Biden-era asylum systems has reactivated smuggling networks now profiting from return traffic. Indigenous communities governing the routes provide temporary shelters despite lacking resources.
Economic realities force brutal choices. Many returnees drain final savings on dangerous boat trips rather than face Venezuela's political turmoil. I'll beg in Colombia before returning to Maduro's regime,said Celia Alcala, echoing sentiments of dozens interviewed.
Experts warn this reverse flow strains regional stability. We're seeing the same crises that drove initial migration - just in reverse,noted migration analyst Luisa Fernández. With U.S. policies shifting, Panama's jungle crossroads remains ground zero for hemispheric displacement.
