Sat Mar 01 09:41:41 UTC 2025: ## Central American Nations Accept US Deportation Flights Amidst Trump-Era Pressures
**Panama City, Panama/San Jose, Costa Rica** – Several Central American nations are accepting deportation flights from the United States, a move attributed to pressure from the Trump administration. Thousands of undocumented immigrants have been deported since the Trump administration took office, often to their home countries but increasingly to third countries, including Panama and Costa Rica.
Over 300 deportees, including nationals from countries like China, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, have arrived in Panama, housed temporarily in a Panama City hotel. Videos show detainees pleading for help and expressing fears about returning home. Panamanian authorities report that a significant portion of these individuals refuse repatriation due to safety concerns. Those refusing repatriation are being transferred to a camp in the Darien province. Similar scenes have unfolded in Costa Rica, where over 135 deportees, including children, are being held.
The US has not released the total number of deportation flights or individuals involved. Experts suggest this practice is faster, limits access to US legal rights for migrants, and serves as a deterrent to future migration. Overcrowding in US detention facilities is also cited as a contributing factor. Once deported to third countries, migrants lose access to US legal protections, and international safeguards like non-refoulement may not apply.
Analysts suggest that Central American nations are acquiescing to US pressure due to a combination of political and economic factors. This includes threats of tariffs, similar to those levied against China, Canada, and Mexico. Colombia’s recent experience, where a threat of tariffs preceded its agreement to accept deportation flights, serves as a prime example. Costa Rica’s President Rodrigo Chaves referred to the US as an “economically powerful brother,” highlighting the power imbalance. Panama has also faced threats, with Trump previously expressing interest in acquiring the Panama Canal.
The use of third countries like Honduras to facilitate deportations from countries with strained US relations, such as Venezuela, has also been noted. The controversial use of Guantanamo Bay to hold some migrants before their deportation was also highlighted by human rights advocates who claim the Trump administration is using the facility to intimidate detainees into accepting repatriation. Legal challenges to such practices remain ongoing. The situation raises serious human rights concerns regarding the treatment of deported individuals and the lack of due process afforded to them.
First Piper 