NECOCLÍ, COLOMBIA – A dramatic shift in migration patterns is unfolding in Necoclí, Colombia, a key departure point for migrants attempting to cross the perilous Darién Gap. Following the implementation of stricter border enforcement policies under the Trump administration and continued pressure from the Biden administration, migration flows through this region have substantially decreased, reversing a recent surge.
For years, Necoclí served as a transit hub for Central American and, increasingly, Venezuelan migrants aiming to reach the United States. However, data reveals a marked change. Regular migratory flows in Central American countries increased by 50 percent compared to the same semester of 2024, but this was preceded by a substantial decrease linked to policy changes enacted during the trump presidency. Specifically, increases were noted from Mexico (almost 190 percent, largely Venezuelan citizens), Panama (138 percent), and Costa Rica (85 percent) – indicative of migrants pausing their journeys or seeking option routes due to heightened border security further north.
The impact is visible in return migration numbers. Between November 16 and November 20, 157 people returned to Necoclí, including 18 minors. These returnees frequently enough arrive destitute and traumatized,requiring assistance from local organizations. Dally Hernández, a Venezuelan who arrived in Necoclí seven years ago intending to reach the U.S., now assists returning migrants. “Of the people who come, some bring money, others don’t. Recently, I helped a woman with three children; we help them get food, lodging and support to return to Venezuela,” she said.
Hernández recounts her own near-attempt to cross the Darién Gap, a jungle region notorious for its dangers. “My husband and I were going to go into Darién seven years ago. We decided not to do it after identifying some risks for my daughter, who was small, only 2 years old. In the jungle we were going to face ravines, rivers, animals like snakes, possible cases of mistreatment and sexual abuse.”
The Observatory of Migration,Migrants and Human Mobility (OM3) report,cited by Migración Colombia,highlights the risks faced by returning migrants,who are vulnerable to illegal armed groups and organized crime networks along their routes. The shift in migration patterns underscores the complex interplay between border policies, regional instability, and the human cost of migration.
