Lawsuit Filed Against Panama for Detention of Trump Deported Migrants

On March 1, 2025, a group of attorneys launched a lawsuit against Panama, challenging the detention practices of migrants deported from the U.S., particularly those affected by Trump-era policies. This action targets the government's handling of vulnerable individuals, including a group of Iranian Christian converts, while highlighting significant international legal violations.

The lawsuit, filed before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, cites the rights of 10 Iranian Christian converts along with 102 other migrants held at a remote camp in Panama. The claim asserts that the U.S. wrongfully denied them asylum based on their religious persecution, while Panama is accused of breaching both domestic and international law, including the American Convention on Human Rights. While the suit presently focuses on Panama, an attorney involved indicated plans to file a separate complaint against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security soon.

Panama's government, represented by spokesperson Astrid Salazar, dismissed claims of detention, asserting that the migrants are under the auspices of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR). However, the reality on the ground presents a different picture; migrants are confined in a secured area monitored by armed Panamanian police, with limited support from international organizations, which have clarified they are only providing humanitarian assistance, not direct oversight of the detainees. The lawsuit adds to increasing scrutiny of the treatment of deported migrants and challenges existing U.S. immigration policies.