Immigrants deported to Panama from US are taken to the jungle

(CLO) A group of immigrants deported from the US to Panama last week were transferred to the Darien jungle area in the south of the country on Tuesday evening.

Susana Sabalza, a Panamanian immigration lawyer, said the deported family she represented was taken to Meteti, a town in the Darien region, along with other migrants.

US officials take illegal immigrants on a Conviasa plane to Venezuela on February 10. Photo: WH

Local newspaper La Estrella de Panama reported on Wednesday that 170 of the 299 migrants at the hotel were transferred to Darien.

The group of 299 migrants were protected by local authorities and received financial assistance from the United States through the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), according to information from the Panamanian government.

Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino confirmed that the group of migrants included citizens from many countries such as Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Türkiye, Uzbekistan...

Mr. Mulino had previously announced that the migrants would be sent to a refugee camp in the Darien region, a dense and dangerous jungle that separates Central America from South America. In recent years, the area has become a major transit point for hundreds of thousands of migrants on their journey to the United States.

The migrant deal is part of an effort by the Trump administration to step up deportation of immigrants living in the United States illegally.

One of the challenges of this plan, however, is that many countries do not accept deportation flights from the US due to diplomatic tensions or other reasons. Under the agreement with Panama, Washington can bring these migrants here, and Panama will be responsible for arranging their repatriation.

Sabalza said she has not been able to see her clients while they are being held in a Panama City hotel and is now seeking permission to visit them in their new home. She said the family will seek asylum in Panama or any country that will accept them outside their home country.

Panama's security minister said Tuesday that more than half of the immigrants deported from the United States in recent days have agreed to voluntarily return home.

Cao Phong (according to AJ, CNN, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nhung-nguoi-nhap-cu-bi-my-truc-xuat-den-panama-duoc-dua-den-rung-ram-post335318.html