In brief
Facing danger and hardship, many Venezuelan migrants are opting to "self-deport," risking their lives to return home rather than face strict U.S. immigration laws.
On a daring journey home, thousands of Venezuelan migrants are making the difficult decision to return to their homeland, pushed by U.S. policies that discourage illegal entry. Boarding a crowded boat on Panama's Caribbean Coast, families carry their possessions tightly in garbage bags, acutely aware of the potential dangers they face—such as robbery and kidnapping—on the treacherous voyage back.Junior Sulbarán, a Venezuelan father, described it as “a broken dream.” Like many others, he fled Venezuela a year earlier with his infant daughter, navigating through the perilous Darién Gap to reach Mexico City. With the arrival of strict migration messages from U.S. officials, many like him felt trapped, forced to reconsider their hopes for a better life in the U.S.Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem sternly warned migrants earlier this year about the consequences of attempting illegal entry, which emphasized the government’s harsh stance on immigration. With these restrictions looming, the journey back to Venezuela becomes a familiar, yet dangerous path for those longing to return home.
