Overview

• Panama reports 2,937 Darién crossings so far in 2025 versus 302,203 in 2024, signaling the corridor has nearly shut.
• Returnees are overwhelmingly Venezuelan (97%), with about half aiming to go back to Venezuela and roughly a quarter planning to resettle in Colombia.
• Migrants cited denial of U.S. entry (49%), policy changes (46%), lack of funds (34%) and fear of detention or deportation (17%) as key reasons for turning back.
• Ombudsmen and UN officials describe heightened risks on the return routes, including scams, boat accidents, exploitation and exposure to armed groups, with people stranded in hubs such as Miramar and Necoclí.
• The report calls for coordinated regional assistance as aid cutbacks and tighter transit rules leave families, unaccompanied children and people with disabilities in precarious conditions.