Indians Detained in Panama, Plead for Help

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

Indians among nearly 300 deportees detained in a Panama hotel.
Deported from the US, they await repatriation to their home countries.
Deportees displayed signs saying “Please help us” and “We are not safe.”
Panama is being used as a stop-over by the US for deportations.
Panama government claims the deportees are being provided protection.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

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Nearly 300 illegal immigrants, including Indians, deported from the US, are currently detained at a hotel in Panama. This situation has arisen as part of President Donald Trump’s stringent crackdown on undocumented aliens. Panamanian officials are now working to arrange their return to their respective home countries. This incident raises concerns about the treatment of deportees and the complexities of international deportation processes.

Images shared by major news networks showed desperate deportees holding up signs that said, “Please help us” and “We are not safe” on the windows of the Decapolis Hotel in Panama City, while police officers stood guard at the premises. These images paint a stark picture of the deportees’ plight and their sense of vulnerability.

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According to an Associated Press report, a majority of the nearly 300 deportees belonged to India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Vietnam, and Iran. The US faces difficulties in the deportation process to some of these nations, which is why Panama is being used as a stop-over. This logistical challenge highlights the geopolitical considerations involved in deportation efforts.

Panama’s Security Minister Frank Abrego stated that the immigrants were not being “deprived of their freedom,” adding that “they are in our custody for their protection.” He confirmed that the deportees were receiving medical aid and food as part of a migration agreement between Panama and the US. This statement aims to reassure the public that the deportees’ basic needs are being met while their cases are processed.

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Following US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Panama earlier this month, the Central American nation agreed to serve as a “bridge” or transit country for deportees, while Washington bears all the costs of the operation. This agreement underscores the collaborative effort between the US and Panama in managing the deportation process.

Abrego also said that those who do not want to be deported to their home countries would be transferred to a shelter in the Darien jungle, near Panama’s border with Colombia, while the International Organization for Migration and the UN Refugee Agency organise their relocation to another nation. This provision offers a potential avenue for those seeking asylum or alternative destinations.

According to the Minister, at least 171 illegal immigrants have voluntarily agreed to return to their home countries, and as of Wednesday evening, 97 deportees, who wished to go to a different nation, were transferred to a camp in Darien, which has become the main thoroughfare for migrants travelling from South America to the US border in recent years. The Darien Gap is notoriously dangerous, making the situation even more precarious.

Abrego added that eight more would be transferred soon. Earlier on Wednesday, Panama’s National Immigration Service confirmed that a Chinese woman migrant had escaped the hotel but was found near a migrant processing facility along the northern Panama-Costa Rica border, a high-transit point for migrants headed toward the US. Her attempted escape underscores the desperation some deportees feel.

The latest development comes as three deportation flights from the US have brought back at least 332 illegal Indian immigrants back home since February 5. All three flights, C-17 US military aircraft, have landed in Amritsar.

The first flight on February 5 carried 104 deportees, the second on February 15 had 116 individuals, and the third on February 16 brought back 112 illegal immigrants.

There was massive outcry after deportees, both in the first and second flights, claimed that they were shackled and handcuffed throughout their journey from the US to India. The use of restraints during deportation flights raises ethical concerns about the treatment of deportees.

Aakhir Tak – Key Takeaways to Remember

Indian deportees stranded in Panama hotel pleaded for help.
Nearly 300 individuals, including Indians, were deported from the US.
Panama is serving as a stop-over location for deportations by the US.
Deportees in Panama are receiving protection and assistance, according to the government.
Several deportation flights have returned Indian immigrants from the US to India.