Former migrants from Venezuela and Colombia are returning home after losing hope of finding asylum in the U.S. due to strict immigration policies. Many are now using boats to navigate back, paying high fees to smugglers. Despite the risks involved, some refuse to return to Venezuela, preferring to struggle in other nations instead.

Migrants who once ventured across the dangerous Darien Gap to seek asylum in the United States are now returning to their home countries, driven by the setbacks in U.S. immigration policy under former President Donald Trump. Many of these individuals, primarily from Venezuela and Colombia, are now relying on boats to make their way back, having lost hope of achieving their American dream after months of waiting for asylum appointments.

One such boat, departing a coastal area near the Colombia-Panama border, contained approximately 20 migrants, including Karla Castillo, a 36-year-old Venezuelan who expressed her despair over the loss of opportunities caused by the cancellation of the CBP One application process. Once a profitable route for smugglers, the boat journeys are now characterized as a “reverse flow” of migration, with individuals paying between $200 and $250 for transport amid collapsing smuggling operations.

Castillo, who attempted to escape the turmoil of Venezuela, reflected on her mixed emotions as she made the decision to return after struggling through multiple countries. As she awaited her boat, she lamented that music playing nearby failed to lift the somber mood among the travelers. Daily crossings continue, albeit in reduced numbers, with reports of Costa Rica seeing between 50 and 75 people journeying south each day.

Despite the risks involved, including recent tragedies where vessels capsized leading to loss of life, many migrants, such as Juan Luis Guedez, express their determination to seek alternatives rather than return to Venezuela. Guedez, who has endured a prolonged asylum wait, views his situation as precarious but is resolute in traveling back to Chile, where his daughter was born.

Overall, the return of migrants from the U.S. demonstrates the shifting tides of migration in the face of changing policies and alarming conditions back home, as many grapple with difficult decisions about where to seek refuge. While some would rather endure hardships elsewhere than return to their war-torn homeland, their journeys reflect the broader complexities of the ongoing migration crisis in the region.

In summary, many migrants who initially sought refuge in the United States are now finding themselves compelled to return home due to restrictive immigration policies and the violence in their native countries. Their attempts to navigate dangerous waters reflect the ongoing challenges and uncertainties in the migratory landscape, as they seek safety and better living conditions both abroad and at home.

Original Source: abcnews.go.com

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