Trump border policies drive massive reversal in Venezuelan migration patterns

A new report reveals that more than 14,000 migrants who hoped to cross the United States turned around and reversed the course due to the policies of the borders of the Trump administration.

The new phenomenon, called migration of “reverse flow”, has mainly had an impact

Since 2017, around 8 million people have fled the political crisis in Venezuela.

The report, published by the governments of Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica with the support of the High Commissioner of the United Nations Human Rights, said that migration to the north had dropped 97% this year.

Migrants pass in front of a border post in Paso Canoas, Panama, while thousands turn south after failing in the United States. (Paul Montenegro / AFP)

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“It’s time to go back – the American dream was not like that,” said a migrant, according to the report.

The report links the reversal to President Donald Trump’s border policies, 46% of migrants citing policy changes and 49% saying that they could not enter the United States, 34% lacked resources and 17% feared detention or expulsion.

The migration through the Darién Perfide gap on the border of Colombia and Panama culminated in 2023 when more than half a million migrants crossed.

The report also blames American financial reductions to have dried up humanitarian aid. Consequently, the NGOs and the United Nations agencies that filled protective gaps in places like the Darién Gap and along the return routes had to close or reduce operations.

In addition, more difficult transit restrictions in Panama mean that the traditional pipeline to the United States is almost closed.

This flow slowed down a bit in 2024, but dried almost completely at the start of this year when President Trump kept his campaign promise to close the border.

The apprehensions of the southwest border reached a monthly record in July, with only 4,399 apprehensions, according to the United States Border Patrol. For the third consecutive month, there were zero versions. This is the new record of all time, breaking the previous record of 6,070 in June.

Biden had several times only when apprehensions varied from 8,000 to 10,000 migrants, its only highest month in December 2023, when 249,785 border patrol apprehensions were recorded.

The migrants stop for a break before climbing a muddy path on a hillside in the wild and dangerous jungle of the Darién Gap, in Colombia, on November 20, 2022. (Jan Sochor / Getty Images)

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Migrants who hoped to reach the United States are now found in a difficult situation and some are facing violence, abuse and exploitation, the report said.

About 50% of those questioned in Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia said they intended to return to Venezuela, with about a quarter of those questioned by planning to go to neighboring Colombia, previously the epicenter of the mass migration of Venezuela. Others said they didn’t know where they were going.

Some migrants will continue to move south to Latin America, but the report warns that they are faced with dangerous boat trips, dependence on smugglers and criminal groups that attack returnees. Others remain blocked in places like Palenque, Miramar, Necoclí, Bahía Solano and Medellín, sleeping in parks or abandoned buildings without access to food, refuge or medical care.

Humanitarian monitors have said that many are turning to survival strategies such as informal work, begging or even transactional sex.

“We do not know if he had to stay in Colombia or go to Chile. I am very worried about my children; they are tired of moving so,” said a migrant.

DHS secretary Kristi Noem, on the southern border wall, announcing that he will be painted in black as part of the Trump administration efforts to increase border security. (Alex Brandon / Pool via Reuters and Fox News Photo / Joshua Comins)

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“Imagine, I’m back in the same place that I left many years ago to continue a dream,” said another. “Now I don’t know what to do.”

Scott Campbell, the United Nations Human Rights Representative in Colombia, said the returnees are among the most vulnerable people on the continent and have urged governments not to abandon migrants.

“Most of these people are already victims of human rights violations,” said Campbell. “We urge the authorities to help people in this inverted migration to prevent them from being exploited or fallen into traffic networks managed by illegal armed groups.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.