The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on July 31 that migrant crossings in the Darién Gap have dropped dramatically compared to the peak in 2023.
“Migrant crossings at the Darien Gap have dropped 99.98% for the months of May and June 2025 compared to a peak under the Biden Administration in August 2023,” DHS announced in a July 31 statement.
“This is a massive decline in illegal migration through one of the key channels normally utilized by would-be illegal aliens to invade our country,” DHS noted.
In May, 13 migrants crossed the Panama border through the Darién jungle, and in June, the number dropped to 10, a considerable decrease compared to the peak of 81,946 illegal crossings recorded in August 2023.
DHS said the United States now has “the most secure border in history,” and stated that the department has focused on deporting those who break the nation’s laws.
“The world is hearing our message that America’s borders are closed to lawbreakers,” said Deputy Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in the statement.
The Darién jungle crossing, also known as the Darién Gap, is one of the most dangerous in the world. It encompasses 5,000 square kilometers of tropical forests, rugged mountains, swamps, and fast-flowing rivers in Panama and Colombia.
Those who travel the six to 11-day Darién Gap journey on foot—a little over 1,000 kilometers long—face temperatures of up to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, which can quickly lead to dehydration and heat exhaustion.
They can also be affected by mosquito bites and diseases such as dengue fever and malaria, or face attacks from wild animals.
Rainfall also poses a challenge for migrants. Because it is a tropical area, rain can last for long periods of time, affecting people’s health and causing some to become lost in the jungle.
“The dangerous Darien Gap trek is notorious for exposing migrants, including children and the most vulnerable, to sexual abuse, trafficking, and exploitation,” said McLaughlin.
A report by Panama’s National Immigration Service published in January revealed that at least 302,203 foreigners of various nationalities, the majority of whom were Venezuelans (209,897), passed through the dangerous Darién jungle in 2024.
