In February, Salana became one of 299 other immigrants facing deportation from the United States to Panama. This move came in response to a controversial third-country deportation agreement established during Donald Trump’s administration. She recently fled Afghanistan to avoid an unwanted marriage proposal from a far-flung Taliban-linked relative. Her search for refuge across different countries eventually led her to Panama, where she found herself quite unexpectedly. Salana has won asylum, though the fight is still difficult. Without a work permit, she is left to live in disillusionment and hopelessness.
Her story, like the stories of many deportees, reveals the struggle for those who return home to an invisible border. After fleeing her homeland, where her life was threatened, Salana journeyed through multiple cities and crossed into Iran on a one-year visa. In the end, she became part of the many footsteps of other migrants that walked through Latin America as they journeyed north toward Canada. Her dreams were short lived when she ended up getting deported from the U.S. back to Panama, where she was left alone and exposed.
When Salana landed in Panama, she was hit with a dismal reality. She was required to remain in a hotel under police guard and was cut off from communicating with the outside world. Even though her asylum case was initially accepted, officials continued to pressure her time and again to go back to Afghanistan. It made her feel like she was in a prison, and it really traumatized her.
“They kept asking if I wanted to go back to Afghanistan. I cried and said I really miss my country, my family, my life before, but I can never go back,” – Salana
Salana’s experience isn’t unique. Countless others like him are facing dire, disheartening futures filled with uncertainty and despair. Their world has been much like ours. They anticipate and adjust to last minute changes that frequently arrive with little or no advance notice from decision makers. In reality, many are rendered unable to work or support themselves, even though they possess citizenship documentation in Panama.
Human rights groups have expressed outrage over the incidents. Their lawsuit contends that these policies unconstitutionally infringe on the rights of vulnerable people in search of sanctuary. According to media reports, many deportees similar to Salana have lived under the perpetual threat of detention or forced return.
“They’re stuck in this limbo – what the government wants is for them to get tired and leave,” – Jorge Luis Ayala
Salana’s journey has been fraught with trauma. Before getting to Panama she was not allowed into northern Cyprus even though she had been accepted into a university program there. She endured unspeakable atrocities while trying to cross into Turkey. After being raped in the camp, she too was deported back to Iran.
In search of safety, Salana ended up applying for asylum in Germany and Switzerland. Unfortunately, like so many of her cohorts, she’s gotten no response to her asks. This continued lack of communication and support only compounds her feelings of abandonment.
“The government has completely ignored us,” – Jorge Luis Ayala
Salana’s anguish resonates the deep sorrow of many deportees who feel neglected by a world they used to inhabit. They deal with language barriers, financial hardships, and an utter lack of guidance as they move along their murky futures.
“We don’t have anywhere to go. We don’t speak Spanish. We don’t have money,” – Sharity
Salana has a hard time coming to terms with her situation. She expresses her profound concerns about going back to Afghanistan, a country she identifies with peril and death.
“I cry and I cry. I tell them I cannot go back – that I will be killed,” – Salana
Her fate continues to hang in the balance as she sits trapped in Panama without any resources to take care of herself or better her living conditions. The perpetual renewal of her visit, which only adds to the perception of precariousness that envelops her, does not help to mitigate this perception.
“As time passes, it’s become more clear that they never had a plan, and that they don’t particularly care that there isn’t a plan,” – Silvia Serna
Salana’s story illustrates the broader systemic issues that those in her position face. It provokes compelling debate about what our immigration policies say about the ways we value one another’s humanity. Such systemic failures within international migration systems have left few clear pathways for asylum seekers and deportees alike. This is not a minor oversight, but one that requires immediate correction.