Deportees from the US struggle for asylum in Panama

In Panama, migrants who were deported from the United States are now in a desperate situation, trying to seek asylum. These individuals come from various countries, including Afghanistan, Russia, Iran, and China, and find themselves in a foreign land with limited resources. The Central American country was anticipated to be a temporary stop for these migrants, but they are facing immense challenges due to a lack of legal and humanitarian support. On a recent Tuesday, a group of around a dozen deportees approached several embassies in Panama City, including the Canadian and British embassies, in hopes of starting their asylum process. Unfortunately, they were predominantly turned away or instructed to contact the embassies by email, receiving generic responses that provided no assistance. One individual, Hayatullah Omagh, a 29-year-old Afghan man, expressed his fear of being sent back to a country under Taliban rule where he believes he would not survive. His feelings reflect the broader concerns of the group, as many were also open to seeking asylum in Panama. However, international organizations and Panamanian authorities have indicated that gaining refugee status in Panama might be exceedingly difficult. Advocates for the migrants, including Álvaro Botero from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, underscored the lack of options available. While the United Nations refugee agency offered some guidance for initiating the asylum process within Panama, they also warned that approval from the Panamanian government was very unlikely. This challenging status highlights a broader issue as aid cuts from the United States threaten the support systems for refugees worldwide.