Renewed Venezuelan Exodus Pushes Darien Gap Crossings Up 51%

The number of migrants coming through the Darien Gap increased by 51% in September as more Venezuelans crossed the treacherous jungle following Nicolas Maduro’s disputed reelection.

Repression in the wake of Venezuela’s July election has led to an increase in out-migration, according to a report by Refugees International published on Friday. Data show that 25,111 migrants crossed last month, with more than 80% of them from Venezuela, followed by Colombia, Ecuador and China.

Migrants camp in Turbo, Antioquia department, Colombia, on Oct. 5, 2023.

Photographer: Nicolo Filippo Rosso/Bloomberg

Venezuela’s electoral authorities declared Maduro won a third consecutive term in July amid widespread international criticism over the transparency of the vote count. The 19,800 ...