PANAMA CITY (AP)
Imagine fleeing your homeland to escape turmoil, only to be whisked halfway across the world to a haven that feels anything but safe. From Afghanistan to Somalia, individuals have embarked on a formidable journey, with hopes pinned on reaching the United States—a beacon of safety and opportunity.
These brave souls journeyed relentlessly, through lands where the language was a mystery, across the dangerous Darién jungle, all in a bid to stand at the U.S.-Mexico border. For many, arriving at this border felt like a finish line. But what awaited them was a harsh reality check, as nearly 300 were airlifted back to Panama, the U.S. intervening with unprecedented rapidity.
In Panama, once seen merely as a pit stop, things took a grim turn. Those not wanting to return home found themselves confined in a closely monitored camp in the very Darién jungle they had laboriously crossed. Tragically, they had no legal counsel, no allies by their side.
With mounting legal pressures, Panama’s government recently made a move. They left these individuals at a bus station in the capital, giving them a 30-day window to chart their next course.
“It feels like the whole world is crushing down on me. It’s like everything is stopping,” lamented 29-year-old Isha Len from Cameroon. Her journey, filled with risks through the Darién Gap, seemed futile in the wake of her deportation.
Personal Narratives
Qamar Abdi, 19, Somalia
Qamar and her Somalian compatriot, Filsan Ali, were recently spotted at a Panama City hotel after enduring weeks in detention. Fleeing Somalia on August 17, torn by a violent conflict between the government and al-Shabab, she embarked on a harrowing adventure. First, buses and shared cars carried her to South Africa. Further flights and bus rides transported her across South America.
Her journey through Colombia’s treacherous Darién Gap lasted six daunting days. Entering Panama on New Year’s Day should have been a moment of triumph. Instead, her story took yet another heartbreaking turn. She encountered danger in Tapachula, where she was kidnapped. Undeterred, Qamar pressed on, travelling by boat and buses before finally setting foot on U.S. soil.
Isha Len, 29, Cameroon
Even the most vivid imaginations might struggle to capture Isha’s experience. As a conflict broke out in her Cameroonian town, she ventured from Cameroon to Nigeria on a friend’s boat. Despite facing detainment and a month-long struggle at a Brazilian airport, she persisted.
But the journey grew even more perilous. The notorious Darién Gap lay between her and safety. She courageously crossed it, only to be kidnapped and released days later. Undeterred, she pressed on, avoiding authorities, until she finally faced the American gatekeepers.
Artemis Ghasemzadeh, 27, Iran
For Artemis, the decision to convert faiths was monumental. Facing possible execution in Iran for her newfound Christianity, she embarked on a global journey. From Iran to Dubai, South Korea, and finally Mexico, each step was fraught with challenges.
Her birthday passed unnoticed in an American detention cell—a stark contrast to the freedom she sought.
“For changing your religion, your punishment is death,” Artemis says with the weight of reality etched in her voice.
Wang Qiu, 53, China
Wang Qiu’s saga is one of hope amidst despair. The champion of human rights and democracy was imprisoned in China for three years. His journey began in Beijing, passing through Cuba and Suriname, navigated by land through South America. Each step, Wong felt the stakes increase.
San Diego, a city he hoped to call home, turned away from him, thrusting him back into a disorienting cycle.
Ebrahim Ghezelgechi, 36, Iran
The Ghezelgechi family speaks volumes of unyielding determination. Fleeing Iran by air, rail, and foot, Ebrahim and his family encountered resistance at every northern Mexican border. Their dreams knew no bounds even when face-to-face with detainment in San Diego.
Samin Haider, 21, Pakistan
Haider’s young life is marked by unrest. From Pakistan to Dubai, his path to dreams was halted when visa policies changed. His heart, however, beckoned him onward. Now in Panama, he remains resolute, unwilling to let despair overshadow his dream.
Elham Ghaedi, 29, Iran
Elham’s odyssey stretched across continents. Her path through Colombia’s challenging terrains taught her endurance. Even in Mexican detention, she found reasons to persist. Her story culminates with her detention—a price far too high for a dream that’s yet to be born.
Hayatullah Omagh, 29, Afghanistan
How does one measure hope? For Omagh, an Afghan minority atheist, hope was a fragile thread in a tapestry of danger. Embarking from Iran after Pakistan, he sought a refuge willing to embrace his difference. Brazil gave him temporary solace, but he longed for familial arms across the northern border.
“After so much time, I’ve lost hope,” he confesses, yet his eyes hint at a resilience that won’t easily wilt.
