Nearly 100 migrants, including Sri Lankans, were deported from the U.S. to Panama and later moved to the Darien jungle region.
Of the 299 migrants deported, 13 were repatriated to their home countries, while 175 remained in a Panama City hotel awaiting further travel.
The migrants were housed under local authorities’ protection with financial support from the U.S. through U.N.-affiliated organizations.
Panama agreed to receive non-Panamanian deportees as part of a U.S. initiative to increase deportations of undocumented migrants.
Some migrants are from countries unwilling to accept deportation flights, making it Panama’s responsibility to arrange their repatriation.
Human rights groups have criticized the process, citing safety concerns for migrants returning to conflict-ridden countries like Afghanistan.
Panamanian migration lawyer Susana Sabalza represents a Muslim family fearing persecution if sent back home and is seeking asylum for them.
A total of 97 migrants were relocated to a shelter in the Darien jungle, with eight more set to join them soon.
Migrants in the Panama City hotel were not allowed to leave, and some were seen attempting to get reporters’ attention.
A Chinese migrant, Zheng Lijuan, escaped from the hotel but was later caught in Costa Rica and returned to Panama.
