Panama City — Arsalan Saleh Fard, an Iranian migrant deported by the United States two years ago, remains in a state of uncertainty after being sent to Panama under a controversial Trump administration policy that relocates migrants to third countries rather than their home nations. Saleh Fard, 25, fled Iran due to political persecution and religious conversion, arriving in the U.S. in early 2025 to seek asylum. Instead, after crossing the border near San Diego, he was deported to Panama along with nearly 300 others under a $14 million agreement between the U.S. and Panama intended to stem migration northward.
The U.S.-Panama deal, part of a broader U.S. strategy that has returned over 25,000 migrants to third countries, often without prior ties to those nations, has left many in legal and humanitarian limbo. Panama, a country of about 5 million, typically serves as a transit point rather than a destination for migrants, and its asylum system requires applicants to navigate a complex process exclusively in Spanish—an insurmountable challenge for many deportees. Saleh Fard, who spoke little Spanish on arrival, found himself without legal status, a right to work, or a clear path to permanent residence.
Panamanian authorities issued temporary humanitarian permits to deportees, including Saleh Fard, starting in March 2025. These permits allowed short stays but prohibited work and lacked renewal guarantees. While some received brief asylum guidance, many were uninformed of their rights or faced swift denials. Humanitarian organizations such as Fe y Alegría provided shelter and basic support, housing migrants in modest facilities near the airport, but resources were limited, especially after U.S. funding cuts to aid programs. Saleh Fard’s attempts to learn Spanish and secure steady employment were hindered by these constraints, forcing him to take informal jobs and live in precarious conditions.
Legal experts and human rights advocates have criticized the policy, arguing that deportations to countries without robust asylum systems and support mechanisms create new vulnerabilities for migrants. Bella Mosselmans, director of the Global Strategic Litigation Council, described the situation as an inevitable outcome of deportations that disregard migrants’ protections, leaving many without access to counsel or healthcare. Meanwhile, U.S. officials have defended the practice as lawful and necessary for national security, emphasizing its role in curtailing unauthorized migration.
Panamanian officials have acknowledged the difficulties faced by non-Spanish-speaking deportees but maintain that they have provided assistance, despite lacking the authority to grant permanent residency. Carlos Ruiz Hernández, Panama’s former vice minister for foreign affairs, characterized the country’s role as a transitional one aimed at facilitating migrants’ eventual return to their homelands, a process complicated by international protections for those fearing persecution.
Saleh Fard, who arrived with a warrant for arrest in Iran due to his political activism and conversion to Christianity, has no safe return option and remains stuck in this precarious status. Isolated and facing psychological distress, he attempted suicide in early 2026 and continues to grapple with his uncertain future. By mid-2026, with his humanitarian permits expired and local support waning, Saleh Fard chose to leave Panama, moving to Mexico in hopes of new opportunities, illustrating the enduring human toll of third-country deportation policies.