A Chinese woman named Zheng Lijuan has escaped deportation from a downtown Panama City hotel. Zheng was one of 299 migrants flown in from the US under Donald Trump’s intensified campaign against immigrants. The migrants, mostly from China, Afghanistan, and Iran, have been held at the Decapolis hotel since last Wednesday.
Panamanian authorities believe that local help aided Zheng’s escape. Locals had allegedly been watching outside the hotel, waiting for an opportunity to assist the migrants. The escaped migrants are now being kept in a San Vicente facility, which some describe as a “concentration camp.” Many of them fear they will face punishment or even death if they return.
The US and Panama have agreed on a plan to control migration through the Darién Gap, a treacherous jungle separating Central and South America. The Panamanian government has signed a deal with the US to deport mainly Ecuadoran and Colombian citizens from the runway near MetetÃ. However, this plan is not without controversy.
Many of the migrants have been unable to secure flights back to their home countries due to lack of flight agreements. As a result, they may be forced to remain incarcerated in Panama. One Iranian migrant reported facing possible execution under Shariah law if she returned.
The situation has sparked criticism from Panamanian politicians, who acknowledge that their country is playing an “ugly role” in Trump’s aggressive deportation policy. Another country, Costa Rica, has also agreed to receive 200 migrants from Central Asian countries and India, citing the potential threat of trade tariffs as a reason for their decision.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/19/migrants-panama-city-darien