NEW DELHI — About 300 Deported migrants including Indians are being held in a hotel in Panama, where they are reportedly receiving medical attention and food as part of a migration agreement between Panama and the US.
The deportees hail from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China which are stranded in Panama hotel under Police guard as they await repatriation, following a crackdown by the Donald Trump administration on illegal immigration, the Associated Press (AP) reported.
They are restricted from leaving the hotel as Panamanian authorities coordinate with international officials to arrange their return to their home countries.
Some migrants were seen holding up signs from their hotel windows with messages such as “Please help us” and “We are not safe in our country,” AP reported.
The US has been using Panama as a transit country for deportees due to difficulties in deporting individuals directly to certain countries. The Panamanian government has agreed to serve as a “bridge” for deportees, with the US covering all costs of the operation.
This agreement was announced earlier this month, following a visit from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino has faced political pressure over Trump’s threats to retake control of the Panama Canal, adding to the complexity of the situation.
However, around 40% of the migrants have refused to return voluntarily, raising concerns about how long they will remain in detention.
Despite government claims that the migrants are not being held against their will, the situation has drawn criticism. Panama’s Security Minister, Frank Abrego, stated that 171 of the deportees have agreed to return but did not specify a timeline. He added that the remaining individuals would be repatriated once the UN provides transportation.
Until then, the migrants may be relocated to a shelter near the Darien Gap, a dense jungle region connecting Central and South America. — Agencies
