Nearly 100 unauthorized migrants, including children, recently deported from the United States, are facing harsh conditions at a jungle detention camp in Panama where they were transferred from a hotel. Eyewitness accounts depict a grim reality of living in “fenced cages” with inadequate food and lack of medical access, raising concerns about their legal status and treatment under Panamanian law.
Migrants Deported from U.S. Face Dire Conditions in Panama Jungle Camp
Migrants Deported from U.S. Face Dire Conditions in Panama Jungle Camp
Recent deportees describe inhumane treatment and primitive living conditions after being relocated to a remote jungle camp in Panama.
Migrants deported from the United States are now confined in a makeshift camp.
Late Tuesday night, a group of nearly 100 unauthorized migrants were removed from a holding hotel in Panama City and transported to a remote jungle detention camp, where they described conditions as hostile and uncivilized. The transfer is part of an earlier plan set forth during the Trump administration to address unauthorized migration by deporting individuals to Panama.
Artemis Ghasemzadeh, a 27-year-old migrant from Iran, recounted the dismal situation upon arrival at the camp, stating, “It looks like a zoo, there are fenced cages.” Many detainees are reportedly sharing basic amenities, such as stale bread as their only food. Eight of the deported individuals are children, highlighting the vulnerable demographic of the group.
Lawyers familiar with the situation pointed out that detaining individuals beyond 24 hours without legal authorization is a violation in Panama. With reported endemic diseases like dengue fever in the area, the implications for detainees’ health are alarming. The Panamanian government has restricted access to journalists and aid organizations, leading to a lack of transparency regarding the conditions within the camp.
This situation summarizes a broader pattern where migrants, many seeking asylum, have faced strict deportation practices and are now enduring severe conditions far from their homeland, adding to the already complex immigration situation in the region. As the unfolding drama continues, the implications for human rights remain considerable.
Late Tuesday night, a group of nearly 100 unauthorized migrants were removed from a holding hotel in Panama City and transported to a remote jungle detention camp, where they described conditions as hostile and uncivilized. The transfer is part of an earlier plan set forth during the Trump administration to address unauthorized migration by deporting individuals to Panama.
Artemis Ghasemzadeh, a 27-year-old migrant from Iran, recounted the dismal situation upon arrival at the camp, stating, “It looks like a zoo, there are fenced cages.” Many detainees are reportedly sharing basic amenities, such as stale bread as their only food. Eight of the deported individuals are children, highlighting the vulnerable demographic of the group.
Lawyers familiar with the situation pointed out that detaining individuals beyond 24 hours without legal authorization is a violation in Panama. With reported endemic diseases like dengue fever in the area, the implications for detainees’ health are alarming. The Panamanian government has restricted access to journalists and aid organizations, leading to a lack of transparency regarding the conditions within the camp.
This situation summarizes a broader pattern where migrants, many seeking asylum, have faced strict deportation practices and are now enduring severe conditions far from their homeland, adding to the already complex immigration situation in the region. As the unfolding drama continues, the implications for human rights remain considerable.
