Following weeks of legal disputes and mounting human rights criticism, Panama has released dozens of migrants who had been detained in remote camps after being deported from the United States. These individuals, who were held under an agreement between the Trump administration, Panama, and Costa Rica to expedite deportations, now face an uncertain future. Authorities have given them 30 days to leave the country, leaving many stranded without resources or support.
Migrants Left in Limbo
Among those released is 29-year-old Hayatullah Omagh from Afghanistan, who now finds himself in Panama City with nowhere to go. Speaking to the Associated Press (AP), he shared his predicament: “We are refugees. We do not have money. We cannot pay for a hotel in Panama City, we do not have relatives.” Many others face similar challenges, unsure of what their next steps will be.
Dire Conditions in Detention
The group of 65 released migrants, which includes individuals from China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Nepal, and Afghanistan, endured weeks in Panama’s remote detention camps under harsh conditions. Food was scarce, and treatment by authorities was reportedly severe.
Human rights organizations, aware of their plight, were present at the bus terminal upon their release, rushing to provide temporary shelter and basic assistance.
Nikita Gaponov, a 27-year-old Russian migrant who fled persecution due to his LGBTQ+ identity, described his desperation. Denied the right to claim asylum at the US border, he now has no place to stay. “Once I get off the bus, I’ll be sleeping on the ground tonight,” he told AP.
Controversy Surrounding US-Panama Deportation Deal
The deportations were carried out under an agreement between the Trump administration, Panama, and Costa Rica, designed to accelerate the removal of migrants. Critics argue that this arrangement effectively shifts the burden of deportation from the US to Central America.
The issue drew international attention when migrants detained in a Panama City hotel protested by holding up signs, pleading for help and fearing forced repatriation to their home countries.
Reports of Violence and Protests in Detention Camps
Migrants detained in camps near the Colombian border recounted accounts of mistreatment, with limited food supplies and aggressive behavior from Panamanian authorities.
Omagh described one instance in which a Chinese migrant went on a hunger strike for a week, while another protest—sparked by the confiscation of a phone—was violently suppressed by armed guards. Though Panamanian officials denied these allegations, they refused to grant media access to the detention facilities.
While some international aid organizations have offered to help migrants find refuge in third countries, Panama claims that those released had previously declined assistance.
Omagh, who had repeatedly requested asylum in Panama, said authorities dismissed his appeals. “We do not accept asylum,” he was told. Panama’s Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Ruiz-Hernandez previously stated, “None of them wants to stay in Panama. They want to go to the US.”
