- 65+ migrants from China, Russia, Afghanistan released after weeks in remote detention
- Panama gives 30-day exit deadline despite asylum seekers' safety concerns
- US deportation deal shifts responsibility to Central American nations
- Migrants report starvation rations, confiscated phones, and blocked legal access
Panama's immigration crisis reached a boiling point this weekend as authorities discharged dozens of migrants detained under a contentious US partnership. The move follows mounting international pressure after leaked footage showed families holding SOS signs in detention hotel windows last month.
Regional analysts note this marks a strategic shift in US border policy. 'The Biden administration effectively outsources deportations through third countries,' explains migration expert Dr. Elena Marquez. 'Panama becomes collateral damage in US domestic politics.'
Among those released was Nikita Gaponov, a Russian LGBTQ+ activist denied asylum at the US border. 'Guards mocked my orientation while confiscating my HIV meds,' he told reporters. Cases like his expose flaws in the 1951 Refugee Convention implementation across transit nations.
Human Rights Watch reports a 300% surge in 'chain deportations' through Central America since 2022. Unlike Costa Rica's temporary work permits, Panama's hardline approach risks WTO violations by obstructing asylum processes. The UNHCR estimates 40% of released migrants will attempt re-entry to the US within 90 days.
