For days, nearly 300 migrants from Asia, deported by the US, have been held in Panama under tight security at a hotel. The conditions they have faced are distressing and potentially in violation of their rights, as lawyers representing them have highlighted.
The migrants were unaware they were being flown to Panama until they landed, with limited contact with the outside world during their stay at the Decapolis Hotel. Some migrants have been transferred to a remote camp at the edge of a jungle, awaiting repatriation or relocation to another accepting nation.
Among the migrants is Artemis Ghasemzadeh, an Iranian national escaping persecution due to her conversion to Christianity. Fearful for their lives if repatriated, some migrants tried to voice their distress by sending messages through their windows to journalists.
Panamanian authorities defended the holding of migrants at the hotel to effectively verify their identities and stated that they have the right to seek asylum if fleeing persecution. However, lawyers representing the migrants faced challenges in accessing their clients and providing legal assistance.
As the situation unfolded, more than 100 migrants have expressed not wanting to be repatriated. International organizations are involved in efforts to find a third country willing to accept these migrants. Some have already been sent to a remote holding camp, raising concerns about the conditions and access to necessary resources.
Legal actions are being considered against Panama and the US, citing violations of human rights. As the situation evolves, the fate of these migrants remains uncertain, with concerns about their physical and mental well-being at the forefront of ongoing discussions.
Attribution:
This article was summarized and republished from the original source.
Please check the original article here: https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/22/americas/migrants-deported-camp-panama-intl-latam/index.html.