A group of 299 migrants from China, Afghanistan, Iran, and other nations found themselves in Panama shackled and uncertain after their deportation from the United States. This move was part of former President Donald Trump’s intensified campaign against immigrants, revealing a complex web of international relations and humanitarian concerns. The Panamanian government agreed to host these migrants due to a lack of extradition agreements between the US and their home countries, with the situation taking a dramatic turn as some attempted to escape their temporary lodging at the Decapolis hotel in Panama City.
The Panamanian government worked alongside Costa Rica, which agreed to receive 200 migrants from Central Asian countries and India. Despite these efforts, complications arose as the migrants were relocated to an encampment in the Darién region, near the Colombian border. This camp is currently undergoing expansion, including the runway at Metetí, to accommodate larger planes essential for the operation.
Among the migrants, Zheng Lijuan, a Chinese national, managed to escape from the Decapolis hotel, prompting a police search. Meanwhile, Artemis Ghasemzadeh, a 27-year-old Iranian English teacher and Christian convert, expressed grave fears about returning to Iran due to potential execution under Shariah law. She and her family were held at the hotel amidst concerns about their safety and future.
The Panamanian government faces criticism for its collaboration with the US’s stringent deportation policies. This partnership also involves a deal to regulate migrant movement through the jungle by enhancing border controls and installing barbed wire. Despite these measures, Panama struggles with the absence of flight agreements necessary to return migrants to their countries of origin.
In Costa Rica, President Rodrigo Chaves justified his decision to accept migrants by highlighting economic pressures. He stated:
"We’re helping our powerful economic brother in the north, because if [the US] imposes a tax on our export zones, we’re screwed." – Rodrigo Chaves
The International Organization for Migration, associated with the UN, has yet to provide insights or comments on this unfolding situation. The agreement between Panama and Costa Rica emphasizes the delicate balance between diplomatic relations and economic dependencies amid humanitarian concerns.