Indians Among 300 Deported Individuals Urgently Seeking Help from Hotel Window in Panama

Panama is currently housing nearly 300 deported migrants from countries such as Iran, India, and Afghanistan, following U.S. deportation policies under President Trump. These individuals are being held in a hotel where they receive food and medical care but cannot leave while arrangements for their return are made. Over 40% of them refuse to return home, expressing desperation through messages in their windows. Of the 299 migrants, 171 have agreed to return, while the remaining 128 are still being processed. Panama acts as a transit country, facilitating the U.S. deportation efforts, with the U.S. covering operational costs amid political pressure on Panamanian leadership.

Currently, Panama is accommodating nearly 300 migrants from several countries, including Iran, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China, who were deported from the United States during President Donald Trump’s administration. These individuals are housed in a hotel where they receive food and medical care, as outlined in a migration agreement between Panama and the U.S., according to Panama’s Security Minister Frank Abrego. Nonetheless, they are restricted from leaving the hotel while international authorities coordinate their return to their native countries.

A notable issue has arisen, as over 40% of these migrants are reluctant to return voluntarily. Some have even taken to displaying urgent pleas on their hotel room windows, asking for “help” and conveying that “We are not safe (sic) in our country”.

The U.S. has utilized Panama as a transit point for deportees due to challenges in deporting individuals directly to certain nations. Costa Rica is also anticipated to receive a similar group of third-country deportees on Wednesday.

Abrego specified that 171 out of the 299 deportees have consented to return to their countries with support from the International Organisation for Migration and the UN Refugee Agency. However, 128 migrants are still undergoing processing, and there are ongoing efforts to identify alternative destinations for them in third countries. One deported Irish citizen has successfully returned to her homeland, while those who resist returning to their countries of origin will be temporarily housed in a facility within the remote Darien province.

The Panamanian government has agreed to act as a “bridge” for deportees, with the U.S. covering all operational costs. This arrangement was unveiled earlier this month, following a visit from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino is facing political pressures due to Trump’s threats to regain control of the Panama Canal, which adds another layer of complexity to the situation.

The Panamanian Ombudsman’s Office is expected to release additional information regarding the deportees’ status, which will illuminate the challenges and possible solutions moving forward.