As hundreds of migrants get deported from the U.S. amid new policies, those sent to Panama are left in limbo in a remote camp.
Locked Away in a Jungle: The Plight of Deportees in Panama
Locked Away in a Jungle: The Plight of Deportees in Panama
Over 100 asylum seekers face uncertainty in a Panamanian migrant camp after being deported from the U.S.
In a troubling turn for migrants seeking refuge, a distant jungle camp in Panamanian province of Darién is holding over 100 asylum seekers from various countries, all recently deported from the United States. Disturbingly, these individuals have no clear sense of the duration of their detention or their future options for relocation.
The San Vicente migrant facility is located four hours away from Panama City, accessible only via a rough and often isolated highway. Here, asylum seekers are enclosed within fences and under the watch of armed guards, enduring nights on hard benches or cots. Media access is restricted, and lawyers report being prevented from communicating with their clients.
This group of migrants forms part of a larger contingent of around 300 individuals who reached the U.S. southern border, expressing their intention to apply for asylum. However, they were quickly deported back to Central America as part of the Trump administration's bid to relocate complex deportation cases to other nations. So far, according to statements from Panamanian President Raúl Mulino, more than half of those sent to Panama have opted for repatriation.
The San Vicente migrant facility is located four hours away from Panama City, accessible only via a rough and often isolated highway. Here, asylum seekers are enclosed within fences and under the watch of armed guards, enduring nights on hard benches or cots. Media access is restricted, and lawyers report being prevented from communicating with their clients.
This group of migrants forms part of a larger contingent of around 300 individuals who reached the U.S. southern border, expressing their intention to apply for asylum. However, they were quickly deported back to Central America as part of the Trump administration's bid to relocate complex deportation cases to other nations. So far, according to statements from Panamanian President Raúl Mulino, more than half of those sent to Panama have opted for repatriation.
