The Darien Gap is a stretch of dense, uninhabited wilderness between Panama and Colombia that migrants use to traverse Central and South America. Now, the man tapped to lead Donald Trump’s immigration efforts says the incoming administration will work to shut it down.

For migrants, the Darien Gap has become a major, often dangerous, passageway on their journey from South America to North America, particularly as many seek to reach the United States.

Migrants from countries like Haiti, Venezuela, Cuba, Honduras and others often use the route as part of a larger migration journey. They’re fleeing poverty, violence and political instability in their home countries.

Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.

Point phone camera here

For more than a decade, Venezuelans have been fleeing their homes due to a combination of economic hardship, political repression, violent crime and a lack of basic services. Many hope to build a better future in neighboring countries or further abroad.

Trump administration plans to ‘shut down’ the Darien Gap

President-elect Donald Trump’s “border czar,” Tom Homan, told NBC News that the incoming administration would shut down the Darien Gap to help curb illegal migration.

“We’re going to shut the Darien Gap down,” Homan told NBC News.

When asked if the Trump administration would work with the Panamanian government or use the military to shut it down, Homan said, “We’re always going to work with a foreign government. But it needs to happen. It’ll save thousands of lives.”

Shutting down the Darien Gap could be a complex challenge. It would require a multifaceted approach that combines infrastructure, law enforcement, diplomacy and humanitarian efforts between the U.S. and Panamanian governments.

Panama’s response to migration

Panama’s president, José Raúl Mulino, has been in office for just over six months. Last year, he promised to take a tougher stance on migration.

Mulino’s administration installed barbed wire fences in the Darien, imposed fines and deported migrants using U.S.-funded flights.

“We are working every day to ensure that illegal migration does not reach Panama City or the rest of the country,” Mulino told lawmakers on Jan. 2.

Decline in migration numbers

According to Panama’s migration authorities, 302,203 migrants traversed the Darien Gap in 2024. That’s 42% fewer than the record number of 520,085 migrants who crossed the jungle passageway the year prior, Reuters reported.

Get up to speed on the stories leading the day every weekday morning. Sign up for the newsletter today!

Learn more about our emails. Unsubscribe anytime.

Enter your email for newsletter updates Subscribe

By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.

Challenges for U.S. immigration enforcement

Trump and Homan have promised mass deportations of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. However, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is dealing with a budget shortfall of $230 million, U.S. officials told NBC News.

Both Trump and Homan have stated there is no price tag when it comes to getting violent criminal migrants off the streets and back to their home countries.

Missouri’s new Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe was inaugurated Monday, Jan. 13, taking office with a strong focus on public safety. He wasted no time in signing a series of executive orders targeting crime prevention.

“Securing Missouri’s future begins with public safety,” Kehoe said during his inauguration speech. “Too many Missourians don’t feel safe and too many Missourians aren’t safe. When people are afraid for their lives and their family, they cannot be productive and they will not prosper.”

Kehoe, now Missouri’s 57th governor, made it clear that his top priority is ensuring the safety of the state’s residents. His administration also launched the “Safer Missouri” initiative to address crime and bolster law enforcement efforts statewide.

As his first official act in office, Kehoe signed six executive orders. Four of them target crime prevention and law enforcement enhancements.

Executive orders focus on crime prevention

Executive Order 25-02 establishes “Operation Relentless Pursuit,” a regional anti-crime initiative aimed at intelligence-driven policing. The initiative will enhance cooperation across jurisdictions to target and capture dangerous fugitives, according to Kehoe’s office.

Executive Order 25-03 launches the Blue Shield Program, recognizing local governments for their commitment to law enforcement and community safety.

Executive Order 25-04 allows state and local law enforcement to assist federal immigration authorities, which stands in contrast to sanctuary laws in states such as California, Illinois and New York.

Executive Order 25-05 directs the Missouri Department of Public Safety and the Missouri State Highway Patrol to collect immigration status data for individuals charged with crimes. The statewide Uniform Crime Reporting System will include the data.

“But that’s not all,” Kehoe said. “In the coming weeks, months and years, my administration will be relentless in our efforts to make Missouri a place where it’s easier to be a cop than a criminal.”

National focus on crime

Kehoe’s emphasis on public safety mirrors efforts in other states, both Republican and Democratic-led, to take a tougher stance on crime. According to an AP VoteCast poll conducted before the 2024 election, 8 in 10 voters expressed concerns about crime in their communities.

In California, voters approved a ballot measure to lower the threshold for felony shoplifting. In Los Angeles specifically, voters ousted District Attorney George Gascon in favor of Nathan Hochman. Hochman promised to take a harder line on crime. In Colorado, voters passed a measure requiring longer prison terms before parole eligibility for serious crimes such as murder and sexual assault.

Get up to speed on the stories leading the day every weekday morning. Sign up for the newsletter today!

Learn more about our emails. Unsubscribe anytime.

Enter your email for newsletter updates Subscribe

By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.

Attorney general supports Kehoe’s actions

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who also attended Kehoe’s inauguration, expressed his support for the new governor’s swift actions.

“I applaud Governor Kehoe for taking action less than an hour after being sworn into office,” Bailey said in a statement. “Today is a bold move toward restoring law and order, backing Missouri law enforcement as they protect our families, and reaffirming our commitment to obtaining justice for victims.”

The Labor Department says it is working to pay over $130,000 in wages recovered from a South Carolina peach farm. The agency says Titan Farms illegally deducted money from migrant workers’ paychecks by charging cleaning fees and soliciting political donations.

The Labor Department did not say what the donations related to but did say the total deductions brought employees’ paychecks below the required minimum wage.

Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.

Point phone camera here

Titan Farms participates in the H-2A visa program, which allows it to hire seasonal migrant workers from other countries. The program requires companies to pay at least $11.13 an hour when factoring in benefits and fees.

A company spokesperson told two local newspapers in South Carolina that the company did not require donations from employees or deduct such money from their wages. The company also denied any wrongdoing related to the cleaning fees that the Labor Department alleges it collected.

Affected workers who the Labor Department hasn’t located yet can check their status on the agency’s database at DOL.gov.

The Senate will consider amendments to the Laken Riley Act Monday, Jan. 13, a bill Republicans hope will be a first step in overhauling United States immigration law. The bill would require immigrants to be held in detention if they are arrested or convicted of a burglary, theft or shoplifting offense.

Even if the criminal case is adjudicated, the individual would remain in custody while their immigration case proceeds.

The House passed the Laken Riley Act on a bipartisan basis on Tuesday, Jan. 7, after 48 Democrats voted yea, bucking party leadership.

Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.

Point phone camera here

Senate Democrats also supported the legislation during an initial vote so they could propose amendments later in the process. They hope to make multiple changes to the bill, including removing a measure that will allow states to sue the federal government if they believe it is not properly enforcing the law.

“I don’t think we want the entire immigration system being litigated in district courts all across the country,” Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., told reporters, according to CNN.

Laken Riley was a 22-year-old nursing student who was murdered by an immigrant in the country illegally. She was attacked while going for a run.

Her attacker, a Venezuelan man, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole. He had previously been arrested on shoplifting charges and released.

“Right now ICE is unable to detain and deport these illegal criminals who commit these minor level crimes. But the Laken Riley Act will fix this,” Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., said.

House Democratic leadership opposed the Laken Riley Act, and told their members to vote against it.

They objected to the bill applying to immigrants who are protected from deportation, like DACA recipients, and that it only requires an arrest for detainment, not a conviction.

Get up to speed on the stories leading the day every weekday morning. Sign up for the newsletter today!

Learn more about our emails. Unsubscribe anytime.

Enter your email for newsletter updates Subscribe

By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.

“This bill does nothing to fix the immigration system or to prevent future tragedies like this,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said. “It is simply an attempt to score cheap political points off of a tragic death. And in the process it unfairly sweeps up many more innocent lives with no due process.”

Republicans tried to pass this bill last year but it never went beyond the House.

President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees begin their confirmation hearings before the Senate on Tuesday, Jan. 14. Thirteen nominees will appear before 11 committees as the chamber fulfills its advice and consent role.

Here is a look at the most closely watched. 

Tuesday

Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth will appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee. He will have to answer for allegations against him, including sexual and financial misconduct and alcohol abuse. Punchbowl News reports that the top Republican and Democrat on the committee reviewed his FBI file, which was described by those briefed on the matter as unremarkable.

Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.

Point phone camera here

Wednesday

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is scheduled to appear before the foreign relations committee. His confirmation as Secretary of State will likely be the fastest and smoothest of all. He could be on the job starting Inauguration Day.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, R, is vying to become the next secretary for the Department of Homeland Security. Noem will be busy in her new role.

First, she will oversee both the Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement as President Trump seeks to carry out the biggest border enforcement and deportation operation in American history.

She could also be charged with downsizing her department which consists of 22 agencies. Some say it’s bloated and that agencies like FEMA and the Secret Service should be independent. 

Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi will sit before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Bondi was Florida’s Attorney General from 2011 to 2019 and has since worked in private practice. Democrats will want her to pledge her independence. Over the years, they have accused President Trump of treating the Justice Department like his personal law firm. 

John Ratcliffe will appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee as he seeks to be the next director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Ratcliffe was the director of national intelligence during Trump’s first term and served in Congress for five years before that.

Thursday

Treasury Secretary nominee Scott Bessent will wrap up the busy week. Bessent will have to hit the ground running.

The Treasury Department is currently working to prevent the United States from defaulting on its debt. The country hit the debt ceiling on Jan. 1 and Congress has not yet given authorization to borrow more money.

Get up to speed on the stories leading the day every weekday morning. Sign up for the newsletter today!

Learn more about our emails. Unsubscribe anytime.

Enter your email for newsletter updates Subscribe

By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.

Bessent would also be in charge of overseeing the implementation of any tariffs or sanctions the president-elect imposes on foreign adversaries.

Utah and Texas, alongside nuclear developer Last Energy, have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), seeking to ease regulations they claim hinder the development of small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors. The plaintiffs argue that the NRC licenses required for the construction and operation of these facilities are “incredibly costly,” rendering such projects economically unfeasible.

According to the filing, these smaller nuclear reactors are more cost-effective, require less nuclear fuel, and do not pose a threat to public health or safety. However, Last Energy said it was forced to abandon a $2 million SMR project in Texas due to “prohibitive federal regulations.” The plaintiffs contend that the NRC’s rules for small nuclear reactors “hinder the development of safe and reliable nuclear power.”

Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.

Point phone camera here

“The NRC imposes complicated, costly and time-intensive requirements that even the smallest and safest SMRs and microreactors — down to those not strong enough to power an LED lightbulb — must satisfy to acquire and maintain a construction and operating license,” the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit follows recent moves in both states to bolster nuclear energy. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox recently announced “Operation Gigawatt,” a $20.4 million initiative to develop carbon-free nuclear power infrastructure in the state. Meanwhile, in Texas, the state’s Public Utility Commission has recommended expanding nuclear energy to improve grid reliability and energy security.

Critics, including the group Utah Citizens Advocating Renewable Energy, have voiced concerns about the potential risks of loosening federal regulations. The group argues the lawsuit’s claims about how safe SMRs are may be misleading and that regulations are necessary to ensure public safety.

“It’s totally disingenuous for them to say that this is safe and that there’s basically no danger,” Stanley Holmes, outreach coordinator for Utah Citizens Advocating Renewable Energy, said. “They’re trying to have the NRC dumb down, or weaken, its standards.”

A spokesperson for the NRC stated that the agency will address the lawsuit in court filings.

A group of House Republicans introduced a bill to authorize the purchase of the Panama Canal. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., and more than a dozen of his colleagues brought it forward after President-elect Donald Trump expressed interest in bringing the canal back under American ownership for national security and economic reasons. 

Johnson said Trump is right to consider repurchasing the Panama Canal. The People’s Republic of China has made significant investments in canal infrastructure, and Chinese companies have managing rights for two ports on either side. 

Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.

Point phone camera here

“China’s interest in and presence around the canal is a cause for concern. America must project strength abroad – owning and operating the Panama Canal might be an important step towards a stronger America and a more secure globe,” Johnson said in a statement.  

History of the Panama Canal

The canal opened in 1914 after the United States spent a decade building it. Ships can pass through the canal in eight to ten hours, saving them an 8,000-mile journey around South America’s Drake Passage, which is one of the roughest and most dangerous crossings in the world.

More than 10,000 ships use the canal annually, including U.S. Coast Guard and military vessels. According to the State Department, 72% of the ships that pass through are either coming from or going to a U.S. port.

Get up to speed on the stories leading the day every weekday morning. Sign up for the newsletter today!

Learn more about our emails. Unsubscribe anytime.

Enter your email for newsletter updates Subscribe

By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.

Some of the largest ships pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to transit. Those tolls generate billions of dollars in yearly revenue. 

In 1903, the U.S. gained permanent rights to the Panama Canal Zone when former President Theodore Roosevelt signed a treaty with newly independent Panama. The canal cost $375 million to build, which was the nation’s most expensive construction project at the time. Former President Jimmy Carter gave Panama control of the canal in 1978.