A boat carrying 21 individuals, including 19 migrants from Venezuela and Colombia and two crew members, sank off Panama on Friday night due to strong waves caused by bad weather, according to Panama’s Senafront border service.
The migrants were returning from Mexico and Central America, heading towards Colombia after being unable to enter the United States due to President Donald Trump’s stringent border policies.
The fate of the occupants remains unknown, though authorities are still investigating.
AFP reporters at Carti port in northern Panama witnessed several boats leaving with dozens of migrants onboard on Friday.
A Venezuelan migrant shared their frustration, stating, “What else were we going to do but return (home)? We’ve been stranded for over 15 days, going round and round from Mexico to here (Panama) and scraping together money out of nowhere.”
Since Trump’s administration imposed new border restrictions in January 2025, many South American migrants have faced harrowing journeys back home, enduring difficult conditions as they travel by foot, bus, or boat, often stopping at shelters along the way.
The migrants had already braved the treacherous Darien jungle, notorious for its wildlife, rugged terrain, and criminal gangs, in their attempt to reach the United States.
