Panama's President José Raúl Mulino has announced the closure of migrant transit centers along the Darién Gap, a jungle corridor that has served as a major route for over a million migrants heading north since 2016.
According to Mulino, the number of people crossing through the region en route to the United States has dropped by 98% in the last year, largely due to mass deportations ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump, which have deterred many from continuing their journey north. Some migrants are even using the route in reverse, returning to their home countries.
