Major transit chokepoints from Northern South America through the US-Mexico border. Figures from IOM, CBP, and Panamanian SNM (latest available).
Roadless 100km jungle corridor between Colombia and Panama. Half a million transits in 2023 — primarily Venezuelans, Ecuadorians, Haitians, Chinese nationals. Heavily extorted by Clan del Golfo guides.
First Mexican entry point. Increasing US-bound Venezuelan, Cuban, Haitian, and African flows. Migrant kidnapping by CDG fragments and CJNG-linked cells.
Caborca corridor and Sonoran desert. Smuggling controlled by Sinaloa-aligned Salazar cell and CJNG. High mortality rate; CBP rescue ops common.
Reynosa, Matamoros, Nuevo Laredo. Highest migrant kidnapping rate. CDG factional control of crossing routes; mass kidnappings of bus passengers.
CBP One appointments concentrate migrants in tent camps. Russian, Haitian, Mexican-displaced flows. CAF remnants & Sinaloa-allied retail control.