Panama City, March 7 (Reuters) - According to an official on Friday, Panama will provide temporary permits to select migrants recently transferred from the U.S., allowing them to remain in the Central American country for up to 90 days if they have security concerns about returning to their home nations.
The temporary measures could affect around 112 out of 299 migrants sent by the U.S. to Panama from various other countries. These individuals were relocated to a migration center in the Darien Gap, a jungle area near the Colombian border, as reported by Security Minister Frank Abrego.
Among these migrants, who include nationals from Iran and China, a 30-day humanitarian permit will be granted, with the potential of a 90-day extension, to initiate legal procedures for either resettlement or voluntary repatriation.
Furthermore, they will undergo interviews with authorities and receive protection from Panama’s National Office for Refugee Assistance (ONPAR).
The migrants had initially been accommodated in a hotel in Panama City before being moved to the precarious jungle region in mid-February, a significant transit point for migrants traveling on foot from South America, prompting legal concerns.
Panama has an agreement with the United States to accept migrants from third countries who are deported from the U.S., assuming responsibility for their repatriation or resettlement, in line with the U.S. government's intensified deportation policy.