Off the Caribbean coast of Panama, small motorboats depart daily from Gardi Sugdub Island toward Colombia, carrying migrants who have abandoned hopes of reaching the United States. The journey south retraces a path once taken northward, through uncertain waters and across challenging borders.
The route is dangerous. Shipwrecks and rough seas underscore the risks inherent in the passage, while unclear guidance from authorities leaves travelers navigating logistics and safety largely on their own.
This reverse migration tells a broader story of resilience amid policy shifts and human vulnerability. Each boat leaving the island carries not only people, but hope, uncertainty, and the determination to reach safety and stability—even if that means returning home.
Assignment for Reuters - 2025
