Story perspectives

Trump Administration Reports 95% Drop in Darién Gap Crossings

By Drooid · Sep 30, 2026, 4:57 PM UTC · How we work

Left

Election Fear Mongering

U.S. President Donald Trump reported a 95 % decline in migrants crossing Panama’s Darién Gap in the four months of 2026.
Left-leaning coverage frames the drop as right-wing politicians rekindling migrant-caravan fear-mongering before the 2026 midterm elections.
Fox News used “caravan” 1,202 times in the 2018 election cycle, amplifying migrant anxieties.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said the caravan narrative resurfaces only before elections to frighten voters.

Right

Hardline Crime Crackdown

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration recorded a 95% drop in irregular migrants crossing Panama’s Darién Gap during the first four months of 2026.
Republicans say the decline must be codified into permanent law to stop future administrations from reversing it.
ICE’s Safe Community in Indiana arrested 426 individuals, histories include sex crimes and drug trafficking.
President Donald Trump unveiled the No Invasion of Our Country Act in Dallas on Sept. 9.

Center

Deterrence Drives Drop

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration recorded a 95% drop in irregular migrants crossing Panama’s Darién Gap during the first four months of 2026.
Analysts attribute the decline to a mix of tougher enforcement and heightened deterrence, citing IOM and Migration Policy Institute data.
IOM recorded 135 irregular crossings Jan-Apr 2026, a 95% fall from 2025.
Migration Policy Institute found 94% of Feb-Sep 2025 Patrol encounters ended in removal or detention.

Blindspot

ICE’s Operation Safe Community in Indiana resulted in 426 arrests of individuals with criminal histories, including sex crimes and drug trafficking, according to the operation’s report.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Right-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Left-leaning and Center-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

The Secure Fence Act of 2006, signed by President George W. Bush, allocated $1.3 billion to erect barriers along the U.S.–Mexico border. Congressional reports show the fence reduced illegal crossings by roughly 30 % between 2007 and 2012, deterring over 200,000 migrants nationwide. The 2026 Trump administration reports a 95 % drop in Darién Gap crossings, highlighted by ICE’s Safe Community and the No Invasion of Our Country Act. Both episodes illustrate how legislative and enforcement measures become political rallying points, shaping voter sentiment ahead of the midterm elections.

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Election Fear Mongering

U.S. President Donald Trump reported a 95 % decline in migrants crossing Panama’s Darién Gap in the four months of 2026.
Left-leaning coverage frames the drop as right-wing politicians rekindling migrant-caravan fear-mongering before the 2026 midterm elections.
Fox News used “caravan” 1,202 times in the 2018 election cycle, amplifying migrant anxieties.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said the caravan narrative resurfaces only before elections to frighten voters.

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