Migrants Released from Detention in Panama Face Uncertain Futures
After weeks of legal battles and intense criticism over human rights abuses, Panama released dozens of migrants who had been held in a remote detention camp. These individuals, deported from the United States, were given 30 days to leave Panama, thrusting them into a legal and personal limbo. Many, like 29-year-old Hayatullah Omagh from Afghanistan, who fled the Taliban in 2022, are now scrambling to find a safe path forward. Omagh, who has no money, no relatives in Panama, and no safe place to return to, summarized the dire situation: “We are refugees. We cannot pay for a hotel in Panama City, and I can’t go back to Afghanistan under any circumstances… It is under the control of the Taliban, and they want to kill me. How can I go back?”
Migrants Describe Harsh Conditions and Limited Options
The migrants, who include individuals from China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Nepal, and other nations, were released after weeks of detention in poor conditions. They were dropped off in Panama City, where human rights groups and lawyers were waiting to provide assistance. Many expressed relief at their release but also deep uncertainty about their next steps. Some, like 27-year-old Nikita Gaponov, a Russian LGBTQ+ individual fleeing persecution, described the harsh realities of their detention. “Once I get off the bus, I’ll be sleeping on the ground tonight,” Gaponov said. Others, like a Chinese woman who asked to remain anonymous, expressed their determination to continue their journey to the United States, despite the risks and setbacks. “I still want to continue to go to the United States and fulfill my American dream,” she said.
A Crisis Born of International Cooperation and Human Rights Concerns
The migrants’ plight is part of a broader agreement between the Trump administration, Panama, and Costa Rica to accelerate deportations. The U.S. sent hundreds of people, including families with children, to these Central American countries as a stopover while authorities arranged their return to their countries of origin. Critics argue that this arrangement effectively outsources the U.S. deportation process, leaving migrants stranded in countries that are ill-equipped to handle them. The situation drew widespread condemnation after migrants held in a Panama City hotel displayed desperate pleas for help on their windows, fearing return to dangerous situations in their home countries.
Legal Limbo and the Struggle for Asylum
Under international refugee law, individuals fleeing conflict or persecution have the right to seek asylum. However, many of the migrants detained in Panama were denied this opportunity. Omagh, for example, was deported after being refused the chance to speak with an asylum officer in the U.S. “I asked many times to speak to an asylum officer, and they told me ‘No, no, no, no, no,’” he recounted. Now in Panama, he and others like him face further barriers. Panamanian authorities have denied requests for asylum, with Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Ruiz-Hernandez stating, “None of them wants to stay in Panama. They want to go to the U.S.”
Poor Conditions and Protests in the Detention Camp
Those held in the remote camp near Panama’s border with Colombia described dire conditions: scarce food, sweltering heat, and little access to legal counsel. Protests and acts of desperation were met with harsh responses from authorities. Omagh and others reported incidents such as a Chinese man’s week-long hunger strike and a riot over confiscated phones, which was suppressed by armed guards. Despite these allegations, Panamanian authorities denied accusations of mistreatment and blocked journalists from visiting the camp, further obscuring the truth.
An Uncertain Future for Released Migrants
While some migrants expressed relief at their release, they now face the daunting challenge of securing a safe and stable future. International aid organizations have offered to help arrange travel to third countries for those who cannot return home, but obtaining visas for countries like Afghanistan remains nearly impossible. Omagh, for instance, was told that Panama does not accept asylum applications, leaving him with no clear options. For many, the only apparent path forward is to attempt the perilous journey north once again, driven by the hope of safety and freedom in the United States. As one migrant summed up, “We are refugees. We just want to live in peace.”
