More than 14,000 Migrants Abandon Their Intentions to Enter the US Due to Trump’s Enforcement Measures

Drop in Migrant Numbers at US Border Following Stricter Policies

Since President Donald Trump took office and implemented tougher border measures, there has been a significant decrease in the number of migrants attempting to enter the United States, according to a report from the Associated Press.

Over 14,000 immigrants have headed back to their home countries, as detailed in reports from the governments of Panama, Colombia, and Costa Rica. The fact is that Trump’s aggressive stance on illegal immigration and enforcement at the US-Mexico border has played a major role in this shift. A report backed by the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights also indicated that northbound migration dropped by an astounding 97% in 2025.

This downturn seems to follow the dismantling of several policies from the Biden administration that had encouraged increased immigration to the US. For instance, the now defunct CBP single app, which allowed foreigners to apply for asylum at the border, was one of those initiatives. The previous administration also quickly ended the CHNV program, which had facilitated travel for hundreds of thousands, especially Venezuelans.

Interestingly, data shows that the majority of returning migrants are going back to their home countries, with 51% returning to Venezuela, a notable source of illegal immigration. Additionally, around 26% have returned to Colombia.

The statistics illustrate a remarkable shift in the illegal immigration situation, particularly after it reached alarming levels during Biden’s presidency, where roughly 8.5 million immigrants were recorded at the US-Mexico border.

At the peak of the immigration crisis in 2023, more than half a million migrants crossed the risky Darien Gap, a dense jungle area between Colombia and Panama often used by those heading to the US. By January 2024, only 2,159 illegal crossings were reported, a decline of over 90% from earlier figures.

This change started when Trump initiated several measures aimed at controlling illegal immigration and enhancing border security. On his first day back in office, he signed multiple executive orders, including a national emergency that redirected military resources to the border and classified drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.

Moreover, Trump pressured both the Mexican and Canadian governments to bolster border security, helping to curb the flow of illegal immigration and drugs, including the commitment of 10,000 National Guard troops by Mexico’s left-leaning President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Residents of Panama, a key transit country for those hoping to reach the US, have noticed these changes. Alan Beitel, a local, remarked, “The incentives have disappeared, and there’s less reason for them to migrate north.”

The reversal in migration trends has led to historically low levels of activity at the southern border, with the Trump administration reporting zero immigrant crossings for three consecutive months this past August.