U.S. Sent Iranian Christian Asylum Seeker to Panama Without a Court Hearing

Artemis Ghasemzadeh, 27, an Iranian Christian convert, sought U.S. asylum but was sent to Panama without a credible-fear hearing — the initial screening an immigration judge normally conducts. Her case highlights third-country removals: transfers under bilateral agreements that bypass standard judicial review. Panama granted her a six-month humanitarian visa in June 2025. Rep. Ansari's "Artemis Act" targets the procedural gap.