Panama recaptures Chinese woman who escaped deportee hotel

Panamanian authorities have recaptured a Chinese woman who escaped from a hotel where nearly 300 deportees from the U.S. were being held as they awaited repatriation. The escape prompted criticism of the Panamanian government as images surfaced showing detained migrants holding up notes pleading for help. Security Minister Frank Abrego indicated that the woman was found near a migrant processing facility along the Panama-Costa Rica border, blaming her escape on human traffickers. Most of the deportees are from Asian countries and about 40% have expressed their unwillingness to return to their home countries. The situation has raised questions about the duration of their detention, with reports indicating that some migrants have already agreed to return. The Panamanian government faces scrutiny over the conditions and handling of these migrants, despite its claims that they are not detained.