NECOCLร, COLOMBIA – โฃ A dramatic shift in migration patterns is unfolding โin Necoclรญ, Colombia, a key departure point for migrants attempting to โcross the โคperilous Dariรฉn Gap. โFollowing โthe implementation ofโ stricter border โenforcement policies under the Trump administration andโค continued pressure โfrom the Biden administration, migration flows through thisโข region โคhave substantially decreased, reversing a recent surge.
For years, Necoclรญ servedโ as a transit hub for Central American and, increasingly, Venezuelan migrants aiming to reach theโค United States. However, data reveals a โคmarked change. Regular migratory flows in โฃCentral American countries increased โคby 50 percent compared to the sameโฃ semester of 2024, โbut this wasโฃ preceded by a โsubstantial โdecrease linked to policyโค changes enactedโ during the trump presidency. Specifically, increases were noted from Mexico (almost 190 percent,โ largely Venezuelan citizens), Panama (138 percent), and Costa Rica (85 percent) – indicative of migrants pausing their journeys or seeking optionโข routesโฃ due to heightenedโ border โคsecurity further north.
The โimpact is visibleโ in return migration โnumbers. Between November 16 and November 20, โค157 people returned to Necoclรญ, โincluding 18 minors. These returnees frequently enoughโฃ arrive destitute and traumatized,requiring assistance from localโ organizations. Dally Hernรกndez, a Venezuelan โwho arrived in Necoclรญ seven โคyears ago โintending โฃto reach the U.S., now assistsโ returning migrants. “Ofโ the people who come, some bring money, othersโข don’t. Recently, I helped โคaโฃ woman with three children; we help โขthem getโข food, lodging andโฃ support toโข return to โVenezuela,” she said.
Hernรกndez recounts her own โnear-attempt to cross the Dariรฉn โฃGap,โ a jungleโ region โขnotoriousโข for its dangers. “My husband and I were going to go into โDariรฉn โคseven years ago. We โdecided not to do it after identifying some risks for my daughter, who was small, only 2 โyears old. In the jungle we were going toโค face ravines, rivers, animals like snakes, โขpossible cases of โmistreatment andโฃ sexual abuse.”
The โObservatory of Migration,Migrants and Human Mobilityโ (OM3) report,cited by Migraciรณn Colombia,highlightsโ the risks faced by returning migrants,who are vulnerable to โฃillegal โคarmed groups and organized crime networks along their routes. The shift in migration patterns underscores โฃthe complex โขinterplay between border policies, regional instability, andโข the human cost โฃof migration.