Uncertain Roads, Unexpected Refuge: Reverse Migration’s Impact on Solo Men

For thousands who fled violence, persecution, and instability, crossing through one of the world’s most treacherous migration routes — the Darien Gap — was supposed to be a journey towards safety. Now, many face an even more dangerous fate — retracing their steps back.

Between February and August of 2025, more than 14,000 people with dreams of reaching safety in the United States have been forced to turn around, this time traveling south. This pattern of reverse migration is a direct result of shifting U.S. immigration policies, the closure of the U.S.-Mexico border to asylum seekers, and increasingly limited pathways to asylum. This reversal is not voluntary — it is being driven by increasingly restrictive U.S. policies that have made seeking asylum or other forms of legal entry nearly impossible.

Across the Latin American region, the dangers for migrants remain severe: violence, extortion, forced labor, medical emergencies, and more. There is no single story that can accurately describe the often perilous situations that migrants face or the risks they take. And one group is often overlooked amid these conversations about migration: men traveling alone.

Solo male travelers make up roughly half of the people moving through the region, and many face extraordinary risks and isolation during the journey. Men like Salem and Nerli continue traveling, sometimes facing danger for years at a time, all with the hope of providing a better future for themselves and the people they love.

Salem has been traveling for almost six years. After arriving and being stuck in Mexico at the end of 2025, he made the decision to turn back and travel south again towards his home country. For most of his journey, he has traveled solo.

“Ever since I left, I’ve never asked anyone for help; I’ve always done what I could to make it on my own,” he shared.

One unexpected turning point during Salem’s years of travel was meeting his now-wife. Together, they were traveling south toward Colombia, where relatives were waiting to help them prepare for the birth of their baby.

But once they arrived in Panama, Salem’s wife began experiencing pregnancy-related pain and needed immediate assistance. When they reached Miramar, they connected with HIAS Panama staff who were able to provide support. The team assisted with calling for an ambulance for Salem’s wife, provided baby supplies and hygiene kits, and even arranged a space for Salem to rest while his wife received medical care.

When the U.S. government made significant cuts to humanitarian assistance in early 2025, it created huge gaps in support for vulnerable people who had been displaced from their homes. The effects of the aid cuts have been severe — upending programs that once provided food, water, medical care, education, and other support to vulnerable people around the world.

Despite these challenging circumstances, HIAS Panama’s team has continued to support people traveling through one of the world’s most treacherous migration routes. HIAS staff remain in key areas to extend a helping hand along the way in the form of protection services, mental health care, emergency assistance, resource sharing, and more.

“Each person has a story — and often, it’s good to have that human connection in order to provide service in the best way possible,” Yazcari Murillo, HIAS Panama’s Protection Officer, shared as she reflected on meeting the needs of the migrant community in Miramar.

Another solo male traveler, Nerli, has spent a decade on the move, trying to find a better future for the son he left behind as a toddler.

On his journey south, Nerli was one of eight solo travelers among several families. When they arrived in Panama, aid and safe transportation space were limited. So, he and the other solo travelers volunteered to stay behind so the families could continue first.

Nerli has been in Miramar for just over five months now, working as a volunteer at a migrant shelter known as Casa Rosada (the Pink House). In exchange for keeping the house organized and clean for the migrant community, he stays free of charge. But for him, it is more than a work commitment.

“I’m sort of contributing my own little grain of sand to the migrant community here in Miramar,” Nerli said.

For Salem and Nerli, the journey is no longer simply about reaching a destination. As options narrow and migration patterns shift across the Americas, people traveling throughout the region — whether north or south — continue to face impossible choices in search of safety, stability, and dignity.

With support from the Hilton Foundation, HIAS Panama remains committed to protecting and assisting vulnerable populations, especially those on the move south due to reverse migration.