Police search for woman who escaped Panama hotel where US deportees are being held
Zheng Lijuan, a Chinese woman, escaped from a Panama City hotel where she was detained after being deported from the US as part of Donald Trump’s heightened immigration crackdown. She was among 299 migrants flown to Panama since last week, originating from countries like China, Afghanistan, and Iran that lack extradition agreements with the US. Authorities believe locals helped her escape while 170 other deported migrants were transported to the lawless Darién region near Colombia.
Following his election in July, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino signed an agreement with the US to manage migrant flows through dangerous areas by increasing border security and deporting mainly Ecuadoran and Colombian citizens. The expansion of facilities at Metetí airport aims to accommodate larger planes for further deportations. However, without flight agreements for repatriation, many migrants may remain detained indefinitely in harsh conditions likened to a "concentration camp."
Migrants face severe repercussions if returned home; for instance, Iranian Christian convert Artemis Ghasemzadeh fears execution under Sharia law. As news of Zheng's escape emerged, other detainees expressed their distress behind hotel curtains. Additionally, Costa Rica agreed to accept 200 migrants from Central Asia and India due to pressure from potential trade tariffs imposed by the US, highlighting the influence of American policies on regional migration dynamics.
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