A village in Panama adapts after migration in the Darién Gap plunges

AI-assisted summary

Migration through Panama's Darién Gap has plummeted by 98% due to immigration crackdowns in Panama and the United States.

The Indigenous village of Bajo Chiquito, a former way station for migrants, experienced an economic boom from the influx.

With the sharp decline in migrants, the village's economy has taken a major hit, forcing residents back to traditional occupations.

This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center. It is part of a project on reverse migration by Arizona Republic reporter Daniel Gonzalez and El Paso Times visual journalist Omar Ornelas.

BAJO CHIQUITO, Panama — No roads lead to this tiny Indigenous community deep in the jungle of the Darién Gap, where a tsunami of U.S.-bound migrants has abruptly slowed to a trickle.

The only way to reach th