Venezuelans head back toward South America after US dreams dashed

25/2/2025 6:22

Dozens of Venezuelan migrants boarded small boats on an island off the Caribbean coast of Panama on Monday, setting off towards Colombia by sea as part of a reverse migration of families who have given up trying to reach the United States.



At least six boats, each with more than a dozen people aboard, departed the island of Gardi Sugdub in the San Blas Archipelago off the coast of Panama, aiming to reach Playa Miel near the Colombian border. From there, the migrants explained that they planned to continue their southbound journey until arriving home in their native Venezuela.



The reverse migration follows U.S. President Donald Trump's crackdown on unlawful migration, including a broad ban on asylum in addition to the elimination of his predecessor's humanitarian parole programs, which had offered some migrants legal pathways to enter the United States.