Chinese Woman Escapes Panama Deportation Facility Amid Trump-Era Migration Crackdown

Panamanian authorities are on the lookout for Zheng Lijuan, a Chinese national who managed to flee from a downtown Panama City hotel where she was held following her deportation from the United States. During a heightened campaign against immigrants initiated by former President Donald Trump, Zheng became one of 299 migrants, hailing from countries such as China, Afghanistan, and Iran, who were transported in shackles to Panama in recent days. Officials suspect that local individuals, gathered near the Decapolis hotel, may have assisted her escape.

Meanwhile, news emerged of other developments as 170 deported migrants were transferred to the Darién region, an area near the Colombian border. This move coincides with plans by the Panamanian government to expand an existing migrant camp previously used to host newcomers arriving after crossing the treacherous Darién Gap. In a separate but related measure, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, following his election, entered into an agreement with the US to manage migration flows through the jungle. This deal involves enhanced border patrols, the installation of barbed wire, and the deportation of primarily Ecuadorian and Colombian citizens via a nearby runway.

As tensions remain high amid threats from Trump to reclaim the Panama Canal, Panama has also accepted responsibility for hundreds of migrants who cannot be easily deported by the US. President Mulino mentioned that the runway at Metetí will be expanded to accommodate larger aircraft, which could potentially operate transatlantic flights. Critics have raised concerns over the lack of proper flight agreements for returning these migrants to their home countries, suggesting that many might end up confined in the San Vicente facility—a situation compared by some to conditions in a concentration camp.

Among those detained, concerns about personal safety and persecution are acute. For instance, Artemis Ghasemzadeh, a 27-year-old Iranian English teacher and Christian convert, expressed grave fears about facing execution under Shariah law if deported. In other scenes at the Decapolis hotel, detained individuals displayed subtle signs of resistance, with one person in a hijab greeting from behind the curtains and a family signaling that they had their phones confiscated before police escorted a reporter off the premises.

In a broader regional context, political leaders in Panama are aware of the challenging role their country plays in a contentious deportation policy influenced by US political pressures. Similarly, Costa Rica recently agreed to receive 200 migrants from Central Asia and India, a decision driven in part by concerns over potential trade tariffs and economic repercussions, highlighting the interconnected nature of migration and international politics.