Migrants deported by the United States are being transferred to a jungle facility in Panama, under regional agreements to deal with migration flows. Panama, Costa Rica, and Guatemala have all committed to taking in deported migrants from other countries in coordination with U.S. authorities.
The center, built in Panama’s dense jungles, will temporarily accommodate migrants until they are repatriated or processed for resettlement. The authorities say the program seeks to minimize irregular migration routes, especially using the perilous Darién Gap, a major transit point for migrants traveling to North America.
Human rights organizations have expressed concerns regarding conditions within the facility and the future consequence of such deportation measures. Regional governments, however, maintain that the strategy is essential to avoid unsafe migration methods and to combat human trafficking networks.
While migration policies grow tighter, the fate of thousands of migrants hangs in limbo, with many racing against time for deportation or extended stays in transit nations.
