Panama: Haven for LGTBI, Religious, and Ethnic Minorities

Dozens of migrants from Russia, Iran, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and other nations who identify as LGTBI or belong to persecuted religious and ethnic groups face an uncertain fate in Panama. Deported from the United States, they now fear returning home.

Facing Persecution and Deportation

Members of Russia’s LGTBI (Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Bisexual, and Intersex) community and persecuted religious or ethnic minorities from countries such as Iran, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan have found themselves in a precarious situation in Panama. After being expelled from the United States—where many arrived seeking asylum—these individuals were placed on flights and sent to the Central American nation as part of a bilateral agreement that turned Panama into a so-called “bridge country” for repatriations.

They now refuse to return to their homelands, citing systematic attacks, persecution, or the threat of death. Among those at greatest risk are the Hazara community in Afghanistan, who have been repeatedly targeted by violent groups such as the so-called Islamic State (IS) and the Taliban, both of which consider Hazaras as apostates. Hundreds of Hazaras have lost their lives to suicide bombings, including a tragic incident at a girls’ school in Kabul in 2021 that claimed 110 lives, mostly schoolchildren.

One 29-year-old Hazara, speaking on condition of anonymity, told EFE in Spanish—acquired over a four-month trek from Brazil to the U.S.—that returning to Afghanistan would be “very difficult” for him. He arrived at the U.S. border on February 7, only to be deported to Panama five days later in shackles. According to Panamanian authorities, this young man was among the 299 irregular migrants from outside the Americas who were sent to Panama in February under an agreement between the two countries. At least 187 have voluntarily returned home or plan to, while 112 are refusing repatriation out of fear for their lives.

For now, these 112 remain in a hotel in Panama City, having been transferred from a shelter near the Darién jungle after the Panamanian government granted them a 30-day renewable humanitarian permit. This permit can extend to a maximum of 90 days, giving them time to look for a path forward—anything but returning to the lands they fled.

A Hindu Tamil man from Sri Lanka, who also requested anonymity, emphatically rejected the suggestion of going back to his homeland, replying, “Never, impossible!” Sri Lanka’s Tamil minority has long faced oppression from the majority Sinhalese Buddhist community. Though the country’s civil war ended in 2009, he believes there has been no lasting solution for Tamils, citing heavy military presence and widespread displacement. “They keep trying to expel Tamils from our territories,” he said through a translation app. “We have no freedom.”

Faith-Based Organizations Step In

While these migrants grapple with their uncertain future, Catholic organizations operating under the umbrella of the Red CLAMOR (Latin American and Caribbean Ecclesial Network on Migration, Displacement, Refuge, and Human Trafficking) are covering hotel costs, food and some legal support. According to Alberto Agrazal, a community organizer with Fe y Alegría (which is part of the network), they are currently supporting 45 migrants at the hotel, primarily from Pakistan, Iran, several African countries, and Nepal. Another 22 were expected to arrive from a Darién shelter.

Attorney and migration specialist Jenny Soto Fernández, collaborating with the Pastoral de Movilidad Humana (also part of Red CLAMOR), described the newcomers’ predicament as a “puzzle.” In statements to EFE, Soto Fernández criticized the lack of robust government assistance, explaining that many migrants did not receive deportation documents from U.S. authorities, nor were their passports stamped upon entering Panama. She argued this creates an irregularity in their status that now rests on a 30-day “humanitarian reasons” permit—an arrangement she calls “incongruent.”

Soto Fernández believes the most feasible options for these individuals are to request political asylum in Panama or approach embassies of third countries to apply for refugee status elsewhere. “If they don’t want to stay here, they can visit consulates to seek any form of protection,” she said.

Two Iranian women interviewed by EFE also refuse to consider returning home, where, according to a 2023 U.S. State Department report, they could face the death penalty for converting to Christianity. “Changing your religion is punished by death in our country,” said one of the women, who is 29. “I just want a safe place.”

Legal Challenges and the Principle of Non-Refoulement

Among the migrants marooned in the hotel is a young Russian man who identifies as part of the LGTBI community. “They label us ‘extremists’ back home,” he lamented, adding that he has spent years hiding his sexual orientation for fear of imprisonment or worse. He told EFE that his brief encounter with U.S. authorities left him with no chance to explain the dangers he faced: “I was detained one minute after crossing the border by car. They never let me tell my story.”

Internationalist attorney and LGTBI rights activist Iván Chanis reminded EFE that the principle of non-refoulement—prohibiting governments from forcing migrants to return to countries where their lives or freedom are at risk—applies in all cases. “If there is credible information suggesting that returning someone to their country could put their life in jeopardy,” he stressed, “every state is obligated to provide a level of protection, whether the danger is prison, inhumane treatment, or even death.”

According to Chanis, Panama must honor its obligations under international law by providing a safe haven—or at least temporary relief—to these vulnerable individuals. The migrants, including those from the LGTBI community and persecuted ethnic or religious minorities, have pinned their hopes on humanitarian visas or third-country resettlement programs. For them, returning to Russia, Iran, Sri Lanka, or Afghanistan could be a death sentence.

In the meantime, as Catholic charities and local human rights advocates rally to provide legal assistance, lodging, food, and translation services, the Panamanian government has taken only limited steps to formalize the migrants’ status. With more arrivals expected while the short permits run out, advocates state these 112 people stay in uncertain status, forced to choose quickly to get a lasting solution to their problem.

Also Read: Latin America’s Transformation: Securing a Reproductive Rights Future

Many of these people cannot return to the violence or persecution they escaped. They say, “Never, impossible!” They came in search of safety and dignity—two basic rights that remain elusive.