Indians Among 300 US Deportees Seen Crying for Help from Panama Hotel Window

Panama is currently accommodating nearly 300 deportees from various countries, including India, Iran, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China. These individuals were expelled from the United States under former President Donald Trump's immigration policies. As per Panama's Security Minister Frank Abrego, the deportees are housed in a hotel where they are receiving food and medical care under a migration agreement between the US and Panama. However, they are restricted from leaving the premises while authorities coordinate their return to their respective countries.

Deportees Plead for Help

A significant number of these individuals, over 40%, are unwilling to return to their home countries, citing safety concerns. Some of them have resorted to displaying desperate messages on their hotel windows, with signs reading "Help" and "We are not safe in our country." The distressing images highlight the dire situation many of these deportees face, as they fear persecution or violence upon their return.

US-Panama Deportation Agreement

The United States has been using Panama as a transit country to process deportees, particularly those whose direct deportation poses logistical challenges. Costa Rica is expected to receive a similar batch of third-country deportees in the coming days. The US covers the full cost of these operations under an agreement announced earlier this month following a visit by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Efforts to Repatriate or Relocate Migrants

According to Minister Abrego, out of the 299 deportees, 171 have agreed to return to their countries with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency. However, 128 individuals remain in limbo as authorities work to identify possible third-country relocation options. One Irish national among the deportees has successfully returned home, while those who refuse repatriation will be temporarily placed in a facility in the remote Darien province of Panama.

Political and Humanitarian Concerns

The situation has raised political tensions in Panama, with President Jose Raul Mulino facing criticism over the country’s role in the deportation process. Trump’s previous threats regarding US control over the Panama Canal have further complicated diplomatic relations. Meanwhile, human rights groups and the Panamanian Ombudsman’s Office continue to monitor the situation, calling for humane treatment and legal pathways for those seeking asylum.

As international authorities work to resolve the crisis, further updates are expected from the Panamanian government and humanitarian agencies overseeing the deportees' status.