Ling, a 35-year-old Christian woman from China, fled after her family was persecuted for their faith — her mother was reported to authorities for believing in Jesus, declared mentally unstable, and the family was locked up and beaten when they tried to fight for her rights. During detention in the U.S., Zhi, another Chinese detainee, reported being told via a phone translation app that he would be sent back regardless of whether he signed documents. Ling was expelled to Panama on a military plane. In Panama, IOM told the group they had two options: IOM would buy them business class tickets home, or the UN would hand them over to the Panamanian government for forced deportation or extended detention. Many were scared and went back.