PANAMA CITY — Nearly 300 migrants from various countries are currently being detained in a hotel in Panama, awaiting repatriation under a U.S. initiative initiated by former President Donald Trump. The migrants, unable to leave the hotel, are in a state of legal limbo as international authorities work to organize their return.
Officials report that over 40% of these migrants have expressed reluctance to voluntarily return to their home countries. Messages displayed in their hotel windows read, “Help” and “We are not safe in our country,” highlighting their distress.
The detainees originate from ten predominantly Asian nations, including Iran, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China. Due to deportation challenges to some of these nations, Panama is being utilized as a temporary stopover. It is expected that Costa Rica will receive a similar flight of deportees soon.
Panama’s Security Minister Frank Abrego stated that the migrants are being provided with medical care and food as part of an agreement with the U.S. The Panamanian government has committed to serving as a transit country for these deportees, with the U.S. covering all operational costs. This agreement was established following a visit from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier this month.
President José Raúl Mulino of Panama is facing political pressure related to U.S. demands linked to control of the Panama Canal, which adds complexity to the situation. The first deportation flight arrived last Thursday amidst growing tension and public outcry over the migrants’ confinement.
The ongoing detention has raised concerns, particularly as images have emerged of migrants peering through hotel windows, desperately seeking help. Minister Abrego has denied that these individuals are being detained, despite their inability to leave the premises, which is secured by police.
As of now, 171 of the 299 detained migrants have agreed to voluntarily return to their respective countries with the assistance of the International Organization for Migration and the U.N. Refugee Agency. Ongoing discussions are taking place for the remaining 128 migrants to find alternative destinations in third countries. Notably, one deported Irish citizen has successfully returned home.
For those refusing to return, plans are in place for temporary detention in a facility located in the remote Darien province, a common route for migrants seeking passage north in recent years. The Panamanian Ombudsman’s Office is expected to provide further information regarding the migrants’ circumstances soon.
