Nearly 300 illegal immigrants, including many from India, are currently detained at a hotel in Panama. This follows a major crackdown on undocumented individuals by the U.S. government. As officials work to return these individuals to their home countries, many are expressing their fear and uncertainty.
Images from the Decapolis Hotel in Panama City show deportees holding signs like “please help us” and “we are not safe.” Police officers are stationed outside the hotel to maintain security.
According to reports, most of the deportees are from countries such as India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Vietnam, and Iran. Panama has become a temporary holding area while the U.S. faces challenges in sending some of these individuals directly back to their home countries.
Panama’s Security Minister, Frank Abrego, has stated that the immigrants are not being held against their will. He emphasized their protection and mentioned that they are receiving medical care and food, as part of an agreement between Panama and the U.S.
Following a visit from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Panama has agreed to function as a transit country for deportees, with the U.S. covering all associated costs.
For those who do not wish to return home, there is a plan to move them to a shelter in the Darien jungle, close to the Colombian border. The International Organization for Migration and the UN Refugee Agency will assist with relocating these individuals to other countries.
Minister Abrego reported that at least 171 deportees have opted to return home voluntarily. As of recently, 97 individuals who wanted to go elsewhere were transferred to a camp in Darien, a key route for migrants heading north to the United States. Eight more deportees are expected to be moved soon.
On a different note, a Chinese woman recently escaped from the hotel but was found near a migrant processing area close to the Panama-Costa Rica border.
This news coincides with three deportation flights from the U.S. that have brought back at least 332 Indian immigrants since February 5. These flights, operated by U.S. military aircraft, have delivered deportees to Amritsar, India. The initial flight had 104 individuals, followed by a second flight with 116 and a third with 112 deportees.
There has been significant backlash after some deportees reported being shackled and handcuffed during their journey from the U.S. to India, raising concerns about their treatment.
This situation highlights the ongoing challenges and complexities surrounding immigration and deportation policies in the region.
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