नेपाल सम्वत् ११४५ सिल्लागाः ६.८ (७ फाल्गुन, २०८१) फेब्रुअरी १९, २०२५ , बुधबार, बाँपीझ्याला ।Panama is currently detaining nearly 300 migrants from various countries in a hotel as part of a deportation agreement with the United States. These migrants, primarily from Asian countries such as Iran, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China, were deported under U.S. President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Unable to return directly to their home countries, they are being held in Panama as a transit point while international authorities arrange their repatriation. Many of the migrants have expressed reluctance to return to their homelands, with some displaying messages like “Help” and “We are not safe in our country” from their hotel windows.
The agreement between Panama and the U.S. designates Panama as a “bridge” country for deportees, with the U.S. covering all associated costs. Panama’s Security Minister, Frank Abrego, stated that the migrants are receiving medical care and food, emphasizing that they are not being detained despite being confined to their hotel rooms under police guard. However, the situation has sparked concern in Panama, particularly as images of migrants pleading for help from their hotel windows have circulated widely.
Of the 299 deportees, 171 have agreed to return voluntarily to their home countries with assistance from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The remaining 128 are in discussions with U.N. agencies to find alternative destinations in third countries. One Irish citizen has already been repatriated. Those who refuse to return voluntarily will be temporarily held in a facility in Darien province, a remote region known as a major transit point for migrants heading north.
The arrangement has drawn criticism and raised questions about the treatment and legal status of the deportees. Panama’s Ombudsman’s Office is expected to provide further details on the situation, as the confinement and uncertainty faced by the migrants continue to generate alarm both locally and internationally. The agreement reflects the broader challenges of managing international migration and deportation under increasingly stringent U.S. immigration policies.
