Iranian migrants moved to remote Panama jungle camp

Members of Panama's National Aeronaval Service police (SENAN) stand outside the hotel where migrants from Asia and the Middle East are housed after being deported to Panama as part of an agreement between the administration of US President Donald Trump and the Central American nation, in Panama City, Panama February 18, 2025.
Members of Panama's National Aeronaval Service police (SENAN) stand outside the hotel where migrants from Asia and the Middle East are housed after being deported to Panama as part of an agreement between the administration of US President Donald Trump and the Central American nation, in Panama City, Panama February 18, 2025.

Dozens of Iranians were among nearly 100 migrants transferred Tuesday night to a detention camp deep in the Panamanian jungle, The New York Times reported.

Deported by the United States under an agreement with Panama, the group had been held in a locked hotel before being moved by bus to the Darién province, an area known for its harsh conditions.

“It looks like a zoo, there are fenced cages,” said Artemis Ghasemzadeh, a 27-year-old Iranian migrant, after the four-hour journey from Panama City. “They gave us a stale piece of bread. We are sitting on the floor.”

The detainees include eight children, a source told The Times. Under Panamanian law, detention beyond 24 hours without a court order is illegal, but it remains unclear how long they will remain at the site. Authorities have blocked journalists and aid groups from entering, while diseases like dengue are prevalent in the area.

Panama’s deputy foreign minister, Carlos Ruiz-Hernández, confirmed the transfer, denying it was a detention facility. “It’s a migrant camp where they will be taken care of,” he said. Security Minister Frank Ábrego added that migrants were being held for their own protection while officials verified their identities.

“What we agreed with the United States government is that they remain and are in our temporary custody for their protection,” he added.

The deportation is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to send undocumented migrants to third countries.

The US faces legal and diplomatic hurdles in returning people to nations like Iran, China, and Afghanistan but has pressured Panama into accepting some deportees. Some migrants, including Iranian Christians, fear persecution if repatriated. Under Iranian law, converting from Islam is considered apostasy, punishable by death.

On Tuesday night, Panamanian authorities told detainees to pack their bags. Buses departed the hotel under tight security, passing the airport before heading east to the jungle camp.

According to the report, one Iranian woman wept on the bus, worried for her sick child. She said her child had been sick with a sore throat for days and the uncertainty and constant displacement was taking a toll on her.

Upon arrival, officials collected fingerprints and had migrants fill out forms.

Panamanian officials say some detainees are voluntarily accepting repatriation through the International Organization for Migration. Others remain in limbo, fearing what awaits if sent back home.