Panama releases US-deported migrants amid human rights concerns

The migrants were deported under an agreement between the Trump administration, Panama, and Costa Rica to speed up deportations.

By: Express Web Desk

March 9, 2025 11:18 AM IST

4 min read

Migrants, mostly from Asian countries, arrived in Panama City on Saturday, March 8, 2025, after spending weeks in a Panamanian immigration camp following their deportation from the U.S. and being released on the condition that they leave the country within 30 days. (AP)

After weeks of legal battles and human rights criticism, Panama has freed dozens of migrants who had been detained in a remote camp after being deported from the United States. Authorities have given them 30 days to leave the country, leaving many in uncertainty about their future.

Migrants face an uncertain future

Many of those released, like 29-year-old Hayatullah Omagh from Afghanistan, are now stranded with no resources or support. Speaking to the Associated Press (AP), he said, “We are refugees. We do not have money. We cannot pay for a hotel in Panama City, we do not have relatives.”

Saare Asgedom, of Ethiopia, rests after arriving with other migrants in Panama City on Saturday, March 8, 2025, after spending weeks in a temporary Panamanian immigration shelter following their deportation from the US. (AP)

Omagh, who fled Afghanistan in 2022 after the Taliban regained control, fears for his life if forced to return. “I can’t go back to Afghanistan under any circumstances … They want to kill me. How can I go back?” he told AP.

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Authorities said deportees could extend their stay in Panama by 60 more days, but many remain unsure of their options.

Harsh detention conditions

The released group of 65 migrants, including people from China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Nepal, and Afghanistan, had spent weeks in poor conditions in Panama’s detention camps.

Human rights groups waiting for them at the bus terminal rushed to provide shelter and assistance.

Nikita Gaponov, a 27-year-old from Russia, fled his country due to persecution for being part of the LGBTQ+ community.

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He was detained at the US border but was denied the right to claim asylum. “Once I get off the bus, I’ll be sleeping on the ground tonight,” he told AP.

A controversial US-Panama deal

The migrants were deported under an agreement between the Trump administration, Panama, and Costa Rica to speed up deportations. Critics say this move effectively exports the US deportation process to Central America.

Authorities said deportees could extend their stay in Panama by 60 more days, but many remain unsure of their options.(AP)

The policy gained global attention when migrants detained in a Panama City hotel held up signs pleading for help, fearing forced return to their home countries.

Violence and protests in the camps

Those detained in the remote camp near Colombia’s border described harsh conditions, scarce food, and brutal treatment by Panamanian authorities.

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Omagh told AP that a Chinese migrant went on a hunger strike for a week, while another protest over a confiscated phone was violently suppressed by armed guards. Panamanian authorities denied these claims but refused media access to the camp.

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Some international aid groups have offered to help migrants travel to third countries, but Panama insists those released had already refused assistance.

Omagh said he repeatedly asked to apply for asylum in Panama but was told, “We do not accept asylum.” Panama’s Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Ruiz-Hernandez told AP last month, “None of them wants to stay in Panama. They want to go to the US.”

One Chinese migrant, who spoke anonymously, said she would try again to reach the US. “I still want to continue to go to the United States and fulfil my American dream,” she told AP.

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