Democracy Dies in Darkness
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Arsalan Saleh Fard, 25, in his room at a shelter. He had fled Iran and sought asylum in the United States, but was deported to Panama. (Luis Antonio Rojas/For The Washington Post)
Panama City — Two years ago, Arsalan Saleh Fard had never heard of this Latin American metropolis. If asked to locate it on a map, he would have been lost. Today, it is here, in Panama City, where Saleh Fard navigates a challenging existence. He sometimes sleeps on a mattress on the floor, experiencing what can only be described as a life in limbo.
Saleh Fard is among many asylum seekers affected by third-country deportations under the Trump administration. Despite fleeing from Iran to seek refuge in the United States, he was deported to Panama. This unfamiliar setting has become his temporary home.
Cases like Saleh Fard’s highlight the complex web of immigration policies that leave many individuals in uncertain conditions. It underscores the pressing need for a comprehensive understanding of international and domestic policies that shape the lives of asylum seekers and refugees.
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