Panama grants a 30-day stay to 112 migrants deported from the US, allowing them temporary humanitarian permits due to fears of persecution. This decision follows advocacy from lawyers representing the deportees, emphasizing that deportation after this period is unacceptable. Current conditions for the migrants remain concerning, highlighting the continuing urgency for comprehensive solutions.
Panama will permit 112 undocumented migrants deported by the United States to remain in the country for a minimum of 30 days, as announced by Security Minister Frank Ábrego. This group, primarily hailing from Asia and the Middle East, will receive temporary humanitarian permits, which may be extendable up to 90 days. Notably, these individuals opted out of repatriation assistance from the UN and International Organization for Migration.
The deportees, part of a larger group of nearly 300 migrants affected by the Trump administration’s deportation policies, include asylum seekers fleeing violence and persecution. The 112 individuals comprise nine from Afghanistan, 12 from China, 24 from Iran, and two from Russia. Many are currently held in a makeshift camp near the Darien jungle, where conditions are reported to be dire.
Lawyer Ali Herischi, representing Iranian asylum seeker Artemis Ghasemzadeh, noted that clients remained hesitant to leave the camp due to uncertainties surrounding their release terms. Ghasemzadeh fled Iran due to her conversion to Christianity, fearing for her safety if returned. In a message from February, she expressed, “We are waiting for (a) miracle,” emphasizing their ongoing peril.
Legal advocates for the deportees, who have previously initiated legal action against Panama, support the government’s recent decision. However, they stress that asylum seekers should not be deported after the 90-day allowance expires. Attorney Silvia Serna Roman stated, “The Panamanian government has changed course…to release them from incommunicado and arbitrary detention.”
Among those detained, many face threats related to their religion or identity. Initially housed in a Panama City hotel, the migrants were later transferred to a remote camp described as grim, lacking essential services. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino has consistently defended the government’s actions, claiming adherence to human rights standards and denying mistreatment of the deportees.
The Canadian government’s latest decision allows 112 deported migrants from the US to remain temporarily in Panama, providing them with a potential path to seek asylum rather than immediate repatriation. Legal representatives emphasize the need for long-term solutions for these individuals who face threats in their home countries. Overall, this situation highlights ongoing challenges surrounding migrant rights and humanitarian protections in international contexts.
Original Source: www.waow.com
