Panama Releases U.S. Deportees After International Criticism

Migrants from multiple countries face uncertain futures after being freed from detention and given 30 days to leave Panama.

Panama released dozens of U.S. deportees held in poor conditions at a remote camp, granting them 30-day humanitarian permits to decide their next steps.
The migrants, primarily from Asian nations, include individuals fleeing violence and persecution, such as Afghans, Russians, and Iranians, many of whom fear returning to their home countries.
Human rights groups criticized Panama and Costa Rica for becoming transit hubs for U.S. deportees, describing the arrangement as a way to evade international asylum obligations.
Panamanian authorities denied asylum requests and blocked journalists from accessing detention camps, sparking further scrutiny over the treatment of migrants.
Many of the released migrants expressed intentions to attempt reentry into the United States, citing a lack of safe alternatives and the dire conditions in their home countries.