PHOTO ESSAY: Venezuelan migrants use dangerous routes in a wave of ‘reverse migration’
Venezuelan Mariela Gomez holds her son Mathias as they boat to shore after arriving on a larger cargo vessel in Jaque, on Panama’s Pacific coast, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, during their journey south after giving up on reaching the United States. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
JAQUE, Panama (AP) — Venezuelan migrant Mariela Gómez is one of the thousands retracing their steps in a wave of “reverse migration.” With legal pathways to the U.S. slashed under President Donald Trump, she and her family are taking a cheaper, but far more dangerous, route south along Panama and Colombia’s remote Pacific coast.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Venezuelan migrants depart Jaque on Panama’s Pacific coast en route to Jurado, Colombia, as they return home after failing to enter the United States, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Venezuelan migrants depart Jaque on Panama’s Pacific coast en route to Jurado, Colombia, as they return home after failing to enter the United States, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Venezuelan Abraham Castro rides a cargo vessel with other Venezuelan migrants through the Gulf of Panama as he, his partner and her two sons travel south after giving up on reaching the United States, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Venezuelan Abraham Castro rides a cargo vessel with other Venezuelan migrants through the Gulf of Panama as he, his partner and her two sons travel south after giving up on reaching the United States, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A cargo crew member points out their location to Venezuelan migrants on the Gulf of Panama as they return home after giving up on reaching the United States, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A cargo crew member points out their location to Venezuelan migrants on the Gulf of Panama as they return home after giving up on reaching the United States, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Venezuelan Mariela Gomez embraces her son Mathias as they sleep on a cargo vessel navigating along Panama’s Pacific coast as they return home with other Venezuelan migrants after giving up on reaching the United States, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Venezuelan Mariela Gomez embraces her son Mathias as they sleep on a cargo vessel navigating along Panama’s Pacific coast as they return home with other Venezuelan migrants after giving up on reaching the United States, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Venezuelan Mariela Gomez stands on the shore in Jaque on Panama’s Pacific coast, from where she will continue her journey south, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. Gomez and her two sons are returning home after being detained by U.S. authorities in Texas and sent back to southern Mexico. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Venezuelan Mariela Gomez stands on the shore in Jaque on Panama’s Pacific coast, from where she will continue her journey south, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. Gomez and her two sons are returning home after being detained by U.S. authorities in Texas and sent back to southern Mexico. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Venezuelan migrants look out from the cargo vessel they are traveling on near Puerto Pina, along Panama’s Pacific coast, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, during their return journey south after giving up on reaching the United States. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Venezuelan migrants look out from the cargo vessel they are traveling on near Puerto Pina, along Panama’s Pacific coast, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, during their return journey south after giving up on reaching the United States. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Venezuelan Abraham Castro and his partner’s son Mathias Gomez walk on the beach in Jaque on Panama’s Pacific coast, from where they will keep moving south toward Colombia, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. Castro, his partner, and her two sons are returning home after being detained by U.S. authorities in Texas and sent back to southern Mexico. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Venezuelan Abraham Castro and his partner’s son Mathias Gomez walk on the beach in Jaque on Panama’s Pacific coast, from where they will keep moving south toward Colombia, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. Castro, his partner, and her two sons are returning home after being detained by U.S. authorities in Texas and sent back to southern Mexico. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Venezuelan migrants returning home after giving up on reaching the United States wait to board a cargo vessel in Panama City, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Venezuelan migrants returning home after giving up on reaching the United States wait to board a cargo vessel in Panama City, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Venezuelan Mathias Gomez sleeps during a stop in Jaque on Panama’s Pacific coast, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, during his family’s return home after being detained by U.S. authorities in Texas and sent back to southern Mexico. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Venezuelan Mathias Gomez sleeps during a stop in Jaque on Panama’s Pacific coast, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, during his family’s return home after being detained by U.S. authorities in Texas and sent back to southern Mexico. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A boat carrying Venezuelan migrants who gave up on reaching the United States depart Jaque, as they move south along Panama’s Pacific coast, en route to Colombia, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A boat carrying Venezuelan migrants who gave up on reaching the United States depart Jaque, as they move south along Panama’s Pacific coast, en route to Colombia, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A pilot steers a cargo vessel along the Gulf of Panama with Venezuelan migrants returning home after unsuccessful attempts to enter the United States, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A pilot steers a cargo vessel along the Gulf of Panama with Venezuelan migrants returning home after unsuccessful attempts to enter the United States, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Venezuelan Mariela Gomez and her family, arrive in a boat with other Venezuelan migrants to Jaque, Colombia, after riding on a larger cargo vessel along Panama’s Pacific coast, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, as they return home and give up on reaching the United States. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Venezuelan Mariela Gomez and her family, arrive in a boat with other Venezuelan migrants to Jaque, Colombia, after riding on a larger cargo vessel along Panama’s Pacific coast, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, as they return home and give up on reaching the United States. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Crew members in Panama City load cargo onto a vessel carrying Venezuelan migrants who gave giving up on reaching the United States and are traveling south, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Crew members in Panama City load cargo onto a vessel carrying Venezuelan migrants who gave giving up on reaching the United States and are traveling south, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A nurse treats Venezuelan migrant Doudmarwis Nieves for burns he sustained while sleeping on gasoline containers aboard a cargo vessel carrying him home, after giving up on reaching the United States, at a health post in Jaque, on Panama’s Pacific coast near the border with Colombia, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A nurse treats Venezuelan migrant Doudmarwis Nieves for burns he sustained while sleeping on gasoline containers aboard a cargo vessel carrying him home, after giving up on reaching the United States, at a health post in Jaque, on Panama’s Pacific coast near the border with Colombia, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Venezuelan migrants Mariela Gomez, her two sons, and partner Abraham Castro return home on a cargo vessel on Panama’s Pacific coast, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. The family is returning south after being detained by U.S. authorities in Texas and sent to southern Mexico. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Venezuelan migrants Mariela Gomez, her two sons, and partner Abraham Castro return home on a cargo vessel on Panama’s Pacific coast, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. The family is returning south after being detained by U.S. authorities in Texas and sent to southern Mexico. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Venezuelan migrants Abraham Castro and partner Mariela Gomez get off a motorcycle taxi in Jaque, on Panama’s Pacific coast near the border with Colombia, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. Their family gave up on migrating to the United States after being detained by U.S. authorities in Texas and sent to southern Mexico. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Venezuelan migrants Abraham Castro and partner Mariela Gomez get off a motorcycle taxi in Jaque, on Panama’s Pacific coast near the border with Colombia, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. Their family gave up on migrating to the United States after being detained by U.S. authorities in Texas and sent to southern Mexico. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Venezuelan Abraham Castro stands on a dock in Panama City as he waits to board a cargo vessel with his partner and her two sons, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, as they return home after giving up on reaching the United States after being detained by U.S. authorities in Texas and sent to southern Mexico. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Venezuelan Abraham Castro stands on a dock in Panama City as he waits to board a cargo vessel with his partner and her two sons, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, as they return home after giving up on reaching the United States after being detained by U.S. authorities in Texas and sent to southern Mexico. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
