International
109 migrants deported from the US are referred from a hotel in Panama to the Darién
A group of 109 migrants, of the 299 deported by the United States who were in a central hotel in Panama, were transferred last night to a shelter in the province of Darién, where the homonymous forest that forms the natural border with Colombia is located, after not accepting for the moment to voluntarily return to their countries of origin.
Of the rest of the almost 300 migrants deported since last week on three flights from the US to Panama, after an agreement between both nations, at least 13 have already returned by air to their countries and another 177 remain waiting in the hotel in the Panamanian capital after having accepted the voluntary return, a source familiar with the process informed EFE on Wednesday.
The National Migration Service of Panama later announced in a statement of “the evasion of a foreign citizen of Chinese nationality”, which “presumably received external collaboration from individuals who were prowling around the hotel”, so now 176 migrants would remain in the building, which was guarded by Panamanian security forces.
On Tuesday, EFE was outside that hotel where migrants are staying, where some wrote messages on the windows like “help” or “we are not safe in our countries.”
Panama’s Security Minister, Frank Ábrego, explained on Tuesday that those almost 300 deported migrants were in the temporary “custody” or “protection” of the Panamanian government at the Decapolis hotel, near the maritime avenue of Panama City.
And he noted that the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) manage “repatriation”.
The IOM pointed out that its work is limited to working “with local officials to help those affected, supporting the voluntary returns of those who request them and identifying safe alternatives for others,” so they provide “humanitarian support, facilitating returns when it is safe to do so.”
Ábrego had advanced that some 171 migrants of those 299 “agreed to return voluntarily.”
The almost 300 deported migrants arrived in the Central American country on three flights from the United States, which deported them after the tightening of immigration policies with the arrival of President Donald Trump at the White House.
Although the Panamanian Government has not given details of the nationality of the total number of migrants, people from Asia such as China, Afghanistan and India, among others, arrived on the first flight with more than a hundred of those deportees.
Panama agreed to be a “poundge” for the mass deportations of the United States after the visit of US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to the Central American country amid tensions over Trump’s threats to “recover” the Channel.
International
HRW Warns Trump’s Influence Has Weakened Human Rights in Latin America
Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned that the political influence and rhetoric of U.S. President Donald Trump have contributed to a deterioration of human rights conditions across Latin America and the Caribbean. In its World Report 2026, the organization stated that several governments in the region have committed abuses against migrants and citizens, or have used U.S. policies as justification to impose harsher repressive measures.
During the first year of Trump’s new term, HRW observed that multiple countries violated the rights of foreign nationals under direct pressure from Washington. Other governments deepened security strategies based on militarization, mass detentions and excessive use of force, according to the report.
“The impact of the Trump administration has undoubtedly been negative in Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Juanita Goebertus, HRW’s Americas director. However, she emphasized that “governments in the region remain responsible for defending democracy and fundamental rights, regardless of who is in power in Washington.”
HRW also reported that the United States significantly reduced cooperation funding for human rights organizations and independent media. At the same time, countries such as El Salvador, Peru and Ecuador passed laws allowing the arbitrary closure of civil society organizations and media outlets, weakening democratic systems and institutional checks and balances.
The organization further criticized what it described as a “double standard” in U.S. foreign policy, which condemns human rights violations in Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua while overlooking serious abuses committed by allies such as El Salvador, Peru and Ecuador. The report also included criticism of the U.S. military attack against Venezuela in early 2026, warning that it could strengthen Nicolás Maduro’s regime and respond primarily to U.S. political and commercial interests.
International
Delcy Rodríguez Takes Control of Chavismo as Venezuela Enters a U.S.-Supervised Transition
With short speeches and an academic image, Delcy Rodríguez—the woman sworn in as Venezuela’s acting president—has taken the helm of Chavismo at a critical moment, as the movement seeks to ensure its survival while the country enters a phase of change overseen by the United States, putting the foundations of the revolution to the test.
Following the military operation on January 3 that resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro, the Chavista leadership moved quickly to fill the power vacuum and confront the new political dynamic from within the state apparatus. In this context, Rodríguez has emerged as the central figure tasked with steering the ruling movement through an uncertain transition.
Although she has held telephone conversations with U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Rodríguez has publicly insisted on Venezuela’s independence and has sharply criticized an opposition that currently lacks meaningful influence within the political landscape.
“Enough of Washington’s orders over Venezuelan politicians. Venezuelan politics must be the one to resolve our differences and internal conflicts,” Rodríguez said on January 25, while defending her proposal for a “political dialogue” with both “like-minded” and “divergent” sectors, which she had presented two days earlier.
International
Epstein Denies Being ‘the Devil’ in Newly Released Video Interview
Jeffrey Epstein claims he was the least dangerous type of sex offender and denied being “the devil” in a video interview included in the latest batch of documents released over the weekend by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The roughly two-hour interview was conducted by Steve Bannon, a former adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, and appears to have been recorded at the late financier’s New York residence on an unknown date.
Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while in jail awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges involving minors. Since December, the U.S. government has released millions of documents related to the case under transparency laws.
“Do you think you’re the devil incarnate?” Bannon asks Epstein in the video interview revealed in the latest release.
“No, but I do have a good mirror,” Epstein replies with a smile, wearing a black shirt and glasses. When pressed again, he adds, “I don’t know. Why would you say that?”
Epstein, who pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting a minor for prostitution, also appears to downplay the seriousness of his conviction.
He objects when Bannon refers to him as a “Level Three sexual predator,” a classification in the United States indicating a very serious threat to public safety.
“No, I’m the lowest,” Epstein says.
“But still an offender,” Bannon responds.
“Yes,” Epstein replies.
The exchange comes after Bannon asks Epstein whether he considers his wealth to be “dirty,” suggesting it was earned by advising “the worst people in the world.”
Epstein insists that he made his money legally, while acknowledging that “ethics is always a complicated issue.”
He claims he donated money to help eradicate polio in Pakistan and India, apparently in an attempt to justify the origins of his fortune.
The documents also show that Bannon maintained regular correspondence with Epstein, who offered to help the far-right political figure spread his conservative ideology in Europe.
Since Trump took office in January 2025, U.S. authorities have released millions of pages related to Epstein, along with photos and videos.
These materials have shed new light on Epstein’s ties to high-profile business executives such as Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, celebrities including filmmaker Woody Allen, and academics and political figures, among them Trump and former President Bill Clinton.
HRW Warns Trump’s Influence Has Weakened Human Rights in Latin America
Delcy Rodríguez Takes Control of Chavismo as Venezuela Enters a U.S.-Supervised Transition
Epstein Denies Being ‘the Devil’ in Newly Released Video Interview
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