"They tied our hands and put us on a plane"

On July 26, 2025, 18 migrants remained at the Fe y Alegría shelter in Panama, after being deported by plane from the U.S. earlier this year under Trump’s intensified immigration crackdown. A total of 299 people were expelled this way, sent to Panama without due legal process. These images are part of a story I photographed for Libération, written by Samuel Ravier-Regnat, in which three individuals shared their journeys of courage, rupture, and resilience. Recently, they were moved into individual apartments, a small but meaningful shift toward stability, supported by the local organization Fe y Alegría.

August 4, 2025 for Liberation Newspaper

Muhammad Rasool, 24, originally from Iran, stands inside the Fe y Alegría shelter, where he is temporarily housed after being expelled from the U.S. under the Trump administration’s 2025 deportation policy. Panama City, Panama. July 26, 2025.

Children take part in activities organized by the Fe y Alegría shelter, which supports migrants expelled from the U.S. and relocated to Panama under the Trump administration’s 2025 deportation policy. Panama City, Panama. July 26, 2025.

Hidayat Zazai, 34, originally from Afghanistan, plays with children during a family event at the Fe y Alegría shelter, an organization that has taken in some of the migrants expelled from the U.S. and flown to Panama under the Trump administration’s 2025 deportation policy. Panama City, Panama. July 26, 2025.

Sleeping area at the Fe y Alegría shelter, where migrants expelled from the U.S. and relocated to Panama under the Trump administration’s 2025 deportation policy are temporarily housed. Panama City, Panama.July 26, 2025.

Sleeping area at the Fe y Alegría shelter, where migrants expelled from the U.S. and relocated to Panama under the Trump administration’s 2025 deportation policy are temporarily housed. Panama City, Panama. July 26, 2025.

Exterior view of the Fe y Alegría shelter, where migrants expelled from the U.S. under the Trump administration’s 2025 deportation policy are temporarily housed. Panama City, Panama. July 26, 2025.

Children take part in activities organized by the Fe y Alegría shelter, which supports migrants expelled from the U.S. and relocated to Panama under the Trump administration’s 2025 deportation policy. Panama City, Panama. July 26, 2025.

Sleeping area at the Fe y Alegría shelter, where migrants expelled from the U.S. and relocated to Panama under the Trump administration’s 2025 deportation policy are temporarily housed. Panama City, Panama.July 26, 2025.

Sleeping area at the Fe y Alegría shelter, where migrants expelled from the U.S. and relocated to Panama under the Trump administration’s 2025 deportation policy are temporarily housed. Panama City, Panama. July 26, 2025.

Exterior view of the Fe y Alegría shelter, where migrants expelled from the U.S. under the Trump administration’s 2025 deportation policy are temporarily housed. Panama City, Panama. July 26, 2025.

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