A coalition of prominent attorneys has initiated legal proceedings against Panama, claiming it unlawfully detains migrants previously deported from the United States under policies set during the Trump administration. The lawsuit, submitted to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, includes 10 Iranian Christian converts and 102 other migrants held in a detention facility situated near dense jungles in Panama.
The legal action asserts that the United States infringed upon the Iranian plaintiffs' humanitarian right to seek asylum due to religious persecution, further contending that Panama has breached both domestic and international legal frameworks, notably the American Convention on Human Rights. While the lawsuit exclusively targets Panama, one attorney involved indicated plans to file a distinct claim against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security shortly.
In response to inquiries about the lawsuit, Panama's government spokesperson, Astrid Salazar, stated that the migrants "are not detained" by Panama but are under the jurisdiction of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Despite these assertions, reports indicate the migrants reside in a fenced camp under tight security from armed Panamanian police, with restricted access controlled by Panama’s security ministry.
Although the IOM and UNHCR offer limited humanitarian assistance, including financial support for meals, they have clarified their role is not one of direct management of the camp or the migrants' well-being.
