Mon Jun 30 17:10:19 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

A reverse migration is occurring away from the U.S. due to stricter immigration policies, particularly under the Trump administration. Migrants who once traveled north through dangerous routes like the Darien Gap are now returning to South America, often stranded and destitute in towns like Necocli, Colombia. President Trump canceled the CBP One app and barred anyone crossing the border without documents from claiming asylum protections. This has caused an increase in migrants stuck in Mexico. The surge in returnees is straining local resources, as aid organizations struggle to cope with the growing need for food, shelter, and support. Many returnees express disillusionment with the U.S., citing fears of family separation and a hostile political climate.

**News Article:**

**Reverse Migration: Trump’s Policies Fuel Exodus from US Border**

Necocli, Colombia – A stark reversal of migration patterns is unfolding as stricter U.S. immigration policies, particularly under the Trump administration, prompt migrants to retreat from the U.S. border and return to South America. In the Colombian seaside town of Necocli, boats once filled with hopeful migrants heading north are now bringing returnees back, often disillusioned and facing dire circumstances.

The shift comes as President Trump canceled the CBP One app, making asylum virtually unattainable for those crossing the border without documents. This has resulted in a significant drop in northbound migration, with crossings of the treacherous Darien Gap plummeting by 98% compared to last year.

“The road was tough. Many things happened — kidnappings, everything,” said Luis Angel Yagua Parra, a Venezuelan migrant who attempted to reach the U.S. but was turned away at the border. Now back in Colombia, he exemplifies the growing trend of “reverse migration.”

Many migrants are stranded in border regions of Mexico, vulnerable to exploitation and trafficking. Facing these harsh realities, many are choosing to return to their home countries or seek refuge elsewhere.

The influx of returnees is overwhelming local resources in towns like Necocli, where aid organizations are struggling to provide food, shelter, and support. “The migration that was going northward has changed,” said Pastor Jose Luis Ballesta Mendoza, who runs a local food hall. “They are coming back.”

Some who reached the U.S. are also returning. A Venezuelan couple who had a child in Colorado said they left the U.S. out of fear of family separation under President Trump’s policies.

As the number of returnees increases, humanitarian organizations are calling for increased funding to address the growing needs of this vulnerable population. “They arrive hungry and cold. They are living in the street without sufficient clothing,” said Sister Maria Elena Osorio Henao, a local aid worker.

The situation highlights the human cost of stricter immigration enforcement and the challenges faced by migrants seeking a better life.

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