Trump Does What Biden Could Not In 50 Days

The number of migrants attempting to cross the treacherous Darién Gap, the dense jungle connecting Colombia and Panama, has fallen sharply in recent months, reaching its lowest levels since the pandemic. This decline is one of the strongest indicators yet that fewer migrants from South America are risking the dangerous 2,600-mile journey to the U.S. border, particularly as President Trump’s new immigration policies take effect.

Illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border have also dropped dramatically, with February recording the lowest numbers in decades. According to data from Migración Panama, only 408 migrants traveled north through the Darién Gap last month. This marks the fewest in any single month since November 2020, when just 365 people made the journey during the height of the pandemic. By contrast, nearly 82,000 people crossed through the Darién Gap in August 2023, leading to a surge of arrivals at the U.S.-Mexico border in the weeks that followed. During the Biden administration, monthly traffic in the region ranged from a few thousand to tens of thousands, underscoring how significantly the numbers have changed under Trump’s enforcement policies.

The White House has been quick to claim the drop as evidence that Trump’s immigration crackdown is working. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt highlighted the trend as part of the administration’s broader efforts to deter illegal migration. White House spokesperson Kush Desai reinforced this message, stating that Trump remains committed to “stopping the invasion of migrants, securing our borders, and enforcing our immigration laws.” Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, had previously promised that shutting down the Darién Gap would be a priority under the new administration.

The Darién Gap remains one of the most perilous routes for migrants, spanning 60 miles of roadless jungle filled with crocodiles, snakes, and criminal organizations. It is also the only interruption in the 19,000-mile-long Pan-American Highway that stretches from Alaska to Argentina. Human rights groups warn that the region exposes migrants to severe dangers, including violence, disease, and extortion by smugglers and gangs.

Despite the dramatic decrease in crossings, the reasons behind the trend remain uncertain. Immigration experts suggest that many migrants and smuggling networks may be waiting to see how Trump’s policies unfold before attempting the journey. Boston College law professor Daniel Kanstroom notes that Mexico has also been stepping up its migrant interception efforts, further discouraging movement toward the U.S. Additionally, many migrants may be hesitant to travel north without clarity on whether they will be able to apply for asylum under Trump’s new policies.

While crossings are at a temporary low, experts warn that migration patterns are cyclical. The forces driving people north—poverty, violence, and political instability—have not changed, meaning the lull may only be temporary. Kanstroom predicts that numbers will eventually rise again, as they have in previous years when strict immigration policies temporarily slowed migration before it rebounded.