Living in Limbo: Arsalan Saleh Fard’s Story

Arsalan Saleh Fard, a 25-year-old from Iran, finds himself in an unexpected place since fleeing his home country. Seeking asylum in the United States, Saleh Fard ended up being deported to Panama, a place unfamiliar to him. He admits he wouldn’t have been able to locate it on a map just two years ago.

Today, Saleh Fard experiences life in limbo, often sleeping on a mattress in his room at a shelter. Panama City, this bustling Latin American metropolis, has become his temporary home. His journey here is part of a complicated web of policies and regulations that asylum seekers like him must navigate.