Deported Migrants Stranded in Panama After Risking Lives for U.S.

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Deported Migrants Stranded in Panama After Risking Lives for U.S. \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Fleeing war, religious persecution, and government oppression, migrants from Afghanistan, Somalia, Iran, China, and other nations risked everything to reach the U.S. After enduring grueling journeys through South America and the dangerous Darién Gap, nearly 300 were deported to Panama under Trump’s expedited deportation policy. Now stranded with no legal representation, many fear returning home means certain death.

Migrants Deported from U.S. Face Uncertain Fate in Panama – Quick Look

Nearly 300 asylum seekers were swiftly deported to Panama after crossing into the U.S.
Many fled war, religious persecution, and human rights abuses in countries like Afghanistan, Iran, China, and Somalia.
Migrants traveled through multiple countries, surviving jungle crossings, kidnappings, and brutal conditions to reach the U.S.
Trump’s deportation policy bypasses standard procedures, sending migrants to difficult-to-return destinations.
Panama initially placed the deportees in a guarded camp in the Darién jungle, restricting their access to lawyers.
After legal pressure, the Panamanian government released them in the capital, giving them 30 days to leave.
Many fear returning home, saying deportation could mean imprisonment or death.

Deep Look

They crossed oceans and continents, fleeing war, persecution, and oppression—only to find themselves stranded in Panama, caught in a political crackdown that is shutting doors on asylum seekers.

For nearly 300 migrants from Afghanistan, Somalia, Cameroon, Iran, Pakistan, and China, the journey to the U.S. was fraught with danger and sacrifice. After weeks or months of travel, they reached the U.S.-Mexico border, hoping for refuge.

Instead, they were quickly detained and placed on military flights back to Panama—a country they had only passed through. Trapped without legal aid, they now face an uncertain fate, fearing persecution if forced to return home.

Here are some of their stories:

Isha Len, 29, Cameroon – Escaped Conflict, Kidnapped on the Way

A schoolteacher from Cameroon, Len fled after violence erupted in her town.

She crossed Cameroon by car and boat, reaching Nigeria.
After flying to Brazil, she was detained for a month at the airport.
She then traveled through South America, following migrants through the Darién jungle.
In Guatemala, she was kidnapped by a gang for several days.
After escaping, she evaded Mexican authorities, traveling by boat and bus to Tijuana.
She surrendered to U.S. officials, only to be deported back to Panama.

“I risked everything, my life, everything, crossing the Darién Gap, just to be sent back.”

Artemis Ghasemzadeh, 27, Iran – Facing Death for Converting to Christianity

In Iran, converting from Islam to Christianity carries the death penalty. Fearing for her life, Ghasemzadeh fled.

She first flew to Dubai, then South Korea, and finally Mexico City.
After weeks in Mexico, she crossed into the U.S. on February 9 and was immediately detained.
She spent five days in detention, including her birthday.

“For changing your religion, your punishment is death. We don’t know what will happen.”

Wang Qiu, 53, China – Imprisoned for Speaking on Democracy

An activist for democracy in China, Wang was jailed for three years before deciding to flee.

He flew to Cuba, then traveled through South America by bus.
He endured the dangerous Darién Gap, then moved through Central America toward the U.S.
Upon crossing into San Diego, he was immediately detained and deported.

Qamar Abdi, 19, Somalia – Fled War, Kidnapped in Mexico

Abdi fled Somalia’s conflict, where the government battles al-Shabab militants.

She traveled by bus through South Africa to Brazil.
After six months on buses, she crossed the Darién jungle on New Year’s Day.
In Mexico, she was kidnapped and robbed by a gang.
She finally reached Tijuana, crossed into the U.S., and was detained.

Ebrahim Ghezelgechi, 36, Iran – Fled with His Family, Pushed Back by Mexico

Fearing persecution, Ghezelgechi and his wife and two children left Iran.

They flew through Brazil, Panama, and Nicaragua before traveling north.
Mexican authorities repeatedly sent them back south, forcing them to start over.
They paid a smuggler to get to Tijuana, where they crossed into the U.S.
Detained for a week, they were deported back to Panama.

The Trump Administration’s Crackdown on Asylum Seekers

Under Trump’s expanded deportation policies, migrants are now being removed at unprecedented speeds, often to third countries rather than their homelands.

Instead of waiting for asylum hearings, migrants are expelled quickly, often without legal representation.
Panama, under U.S. pressure, initially held deportees in a guarded jungle camp, limiting access to aid.
After legal challenges, they were released in Panama City with just 30 days to leave.

Many have no home to return to and no legal pathway forward.

What Happens Next?

With nowhere to go and no legal protections, these migrants face an uncertain future:

Can they seek asylum in Panama or other Latin American countries? Many fear persecution if forced home.
Will legal challenges stop these expedited deportations? Advocacy groups are fighting to reopen cases.
Will the U.S. continue these deportation flights? Critics argue this violates human rights protections.

As human rights groups push back against the expedited removal process, these hundreds of migrants remain stranded, desperately seeking a way forward.