Artemis Ghasemzadeh, an Iranian Christian convert, was deported to Panama in 2025 after fleeing persecution in Iran, while the Trump administration also planned to send Iranians to the Central African Republic, sparking legal and human rights concerns.
Artemis Ghasemzadeh, a 27-year-old Iranian Christian convert, found herself in a precarious situation after being deported to Panama in 2025. Her journey from Iran to the United States, marked by perilous crossings and eventual detention, highlights the complexities of asylum policies under the Trump administration. Meanwhile, the U.S. government’s plan to deport Iranians to the Central African Republic has raised alarms among human rights advocates.
Deportation to Panama and the Central African Republic
Ghasemzadeh, who fled Iran in December 2024 after converting to Christianity, was detained at the U.S.-Mexico border and later deported to Panama in February 2025. Her case is part of a broader pattern where Iranian asylum seekers, particularly Christians, face deportation despite risks of persecution. The Trump administration’s third-country deportation deals, including with the Central African Republic, have drawn criticism for sending individuals to unstable regions. A U.S. official noted that the first flight under the Central African Republic deal could carry 20 people, including Iranians, Syrians, and Afghans, with the plane potentially departing as early as Thursday.
The Central African Republic, a nation plagued by violence and poverty, has agreed to accept deportees from the U.S. However, the deal’s transparency and the safety of deportees remain contentious. The U.S. State Department and the Central African Republic’s government have not commented on the specifics. Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has been awarded $85 million for operations in the country, though it claims it is not involved in the removals, only providing post-arrival humanitarian assistance
on a voluntary basis.
Legal and Human Rights Concerns
Ghasemzadeh’s case exemplifies this risk, as she was deported without a “credible fear” interview, a process typically offered to asylum seekers.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maintains that all deportees receive due process. However, Ghasemzadeh’s lawyer, Ali Herschi, argues that the administration’s actions contradict these claims. We don't deserve this.
We are in a place where we feel helpless,
Ghasemzadeh said, describing dire conditions in a Panamanian detention camp.
The Path Forward
Rep. Yassamin Ansari introducing the Artemis Act to halt expedited removals for refugees from countries designated as countries of particular concern
for religious freedom violations. The bill, named after Ghasemzadeh, aims to ensure asylum cases are heard in U.S. immigration courts before deportation. However, its prospects remain uncertain under Republican control of the House of Representatives and Senate.
The broader implications of the Trump administration’s deportation policies are still unfolding. While the U.S. government asserts that deportees are provided with full due process, advocates argue that these measures prioritize expediency over human rights. As Ghasemzadeh and others await resolution, the legal and ethical debates surrounding asylum and deportation continue to intensify.
