As the first busloads of freed migrants disembarked in Panama City this month, they were met with chaos and disorientation. A trio among them was clearly in distress, suffering from severe health issues—one individual required HIV treatment, another lacked insulin, and a third was experiencing seizures. Such were the conditions for the recently deported individuals as they grappled with their uncertain futures in a foreign land.

These challenges arise from U.S. deportation policies aimed at curbing immigration. A group of approximately 300 migrants was initially confined to a hotel by Panamanian authorities. Those unwilling to return home were subsequently moved to a guarded camp nestled in the jungle. Following legal intervention and protests from human rights organizations, these individuals were eventually released, but the relief has been overshadowed by their precarious situation.

Now, migrants hailing from diverse countries—such as Iran, Afghanistan, Cameroon, Ethiopia, and Uzbekistan—find themselves in limbo. Stranded in Panama, many are sheltered in a school gymnasium converted by local aid groups. With no clear direction or resources, they face the daunting challenge of figuring out their next steps amidst the overwhelming sense of confusion and fear that permeates their new reality.