Reports indicate that a group of migrants, including Afghan citizens who had been deported from the United States, were transferred from a hotel in Panama’s capital to a center in the Darién jungle.
A local newspaper reported on Wednesday, February 19, that 170 out of 299 migrants who had been staying in the hotel were moved to Darién.
Reuters also published a report citing Susana Sabalza, a lawyer for one migrant family in Panama, who confirmed the transfer of deported migrants to Metti, a city in the Darién region.
Darién is a jungle area in southern Panama that has become a key passage for migrants traveling to the United States in recent years.
Panamanian President José Raúl announced on Thursday, February 20, that 119 refugees, including Afghan, Pakistani, Chinese, and Uzbek citizens, had been deported from the United States.
He also mentioned the deportation of 360 additional “illegal” migrants from the U.S. to Panama, following an executive order from President Donald Trump aimed at preventing taxpayer money from supporting illegal immigration.
According to Panama’s Minister of Security, more than half of the migrants recently deported from the U.S. have agreed to return voluntarily to their home countries, mainly in Asia and the Middle East.
This move highlights the ongoing global issue of migration and the impact of stringent immigration policies. As governments like the U.S. and Panama tighten their immigration controls, the fate of these deported migrants continues to raise humanitarian concerns.
