The Trump administration is celebrating a nearly complete drop in unauthorized migrant crossings through the Darien Gap, reporting a 99.98% decrease in May and June 2025. The Department of Homeland Security credits this decline to strong deterrence, better international enforcement coordination, and a renewed effort to stop unlawful migration before it starts.
Sharp Decline Marks Turning Point in Migration Pipeline
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that unauthorized crossings through Panama’s dangerous Darien Gap have almost stopped, with only 13 reported in May and 10 in June 2025. These numbers show a dramatic drop from the 82,000 crossings recorded in just one month during the Biden administration in 2023.
The data represents a 99.98% drop, a figure DHS officials are calling historic. Once a primary corridor for migrants from across Latin America and beyond, the Darien Gap is now largely abandoned, following a sustained campaign by the Trump administration to choke off illegal entry far from the U.S. border.
DHS Credits Trump-Era Border Crackdown for Collapse
According to DHS, the dramatic fall in crossings is the result of targeted deterrence efforts and a broader international strategy to discourage migration before it starts. Under the leadership of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the agency has pushed aggressive messaging campaigns warning migrants of the dangers of the Darien trek, particularly for women and children.
Officials say migrants are increasingly abandoning their journeys before even reaching the Panama-Colombia border, deterred by expanded surveillance, joint patrols, and coordinated interdictions with regional partners. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin emphasized that the administration’s crackdown extends far beyond the U.S. border.
Technology-Driven Deportation Program Encourages Self-Removal
Alongside interception overseas, DHS is stepping up domestic efforts to lower the number of undocumented people through voluntary return programs. The CBP Home App now lets migrants plan their departure. It provides free travel and a $1,000 reward after confirmed return.
The program, heavily promoted by DHS, aims to ease pressure on the detention system while accelerating removals. Officials have framed it as a humane but firm tool for encouraging compliance with immigration laws — while signaling to prospective migrants that unlawful entry comes with consequences.
The self-deportation initiative aligns with the administration’s broader push to reshape immigration enforcement with digital tools, expedited procedures, and punitive deterrents.
Administration Declares “Most Secure Border” in U.S. History
DHS has declared the current state of border enforcement to be the most robust in modern American history. Secretary Noem, backed by senior officials and the Trump White House, credits the administration’s strict approach for restoring control at key transit points and reversing what they call a “border crisis” inherited from prior leadership.
The administration has expanded deportation flights, slashed asylum access, and partnered more deeply with Latin American governments to intercept migrants before they reach U.S. territory. DHS says the historic plunge at the Darien Gap underscores the success of those measures.
What’s Next? Regional Impact and Questions About Long-Term Sustainability
With the collapse of the Darien crossings, pressure is mounting on other countries in the region to follow suit. DHS presents the trend as evidence that international deterrence strategies are effective, if supported by political will, surveillance ability, and penalties for illegal movement.
However, rights groups warn that new smuggling routes might develop as migration shifts into more remote and dangerous areas. Critics also warn that deep-rooted drivers — political repression, poverty, and violence — remain unaddressed, raising questions about the long-term sustainability of deterrence alone. Nonetheless, the Trump administration remains firm in its approach.
For timely updates and analysis on immigration enforcement and related immigration issues, visit ImmigrationQuestion.com. Get answers to your immigration questions from licensed immigration attorneys. For attorneys, use our innovative 2-in-1 case management software to grow your practice. Download our free app on Google Play and the Apple App Store.
Resources:
- https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/07/31/migrant-crossings-darien-gap-continue-plummet-crossings-are-down-9998
- https://nypost.com/2025/07/31/us-news/migrant-crossings-in-once-overrun-darien-gap-route-drop-to-almost-zero/
**ImmigrationQuestion.com is a third-party platform that serves as a meeting ground for licensed immigration attorneys and people with immigration questions. It is not a law firm. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by USCIS or AILA. Attorneys on this platform are independent and have the discretion to offer a free consultation and/or set their fees under the law.
