Around 300 illegal immigrants, including some from India, have been detained in a hotel in Panama after being deported from the United States. This is part of President Donald Trump's strict measures against undocumented immigrants. Panamanian authorities are now working to send them back to their home countries.

Major news networks are sharing pictures of jailed deportees carrying banners that read, "Please help us" and "We are not safe," from the windows of the Decapolis Hotel in Panama City while police officers keep watch outside. According to the Associated Press, most of the deportees are from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Vietnam and Iran. Panama has become an important transit point for them because the US is facing difficulties in deporting them directly to their home countries.

Frank Abrego, Panama's Security Minister, underlined that the deportees were "not being deprived of their freedom" in spite of worries about their safety. “They are in our custody for their protection,” Abrego informed reporters adding that that they are receiving food and medical attention as part of a US-Panama migration pact. The arrest happened after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Panama earlier this month. During his visit, Panama agreed to act as a transit hub for deportees, with the US covering all the costs. 

According to Abrego, those unwilling to return to their home countries will be sent to a shelter in the Darien jungle, near Panama’s border with Colombia. There, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency are helping with their relocation to other countries. So far, at least 171 people have agreed to return home voluntarily, while 97 have chosen relocation and were moved to a camp in Darien by Wednesday evening. Eight more will be transferred soon. Meanwhile, a Chinese woman was discovered close to a migrant processing centre along the northern Panama-Costa Rica border, a popular route for migrants travelling to the United States, after escaping from the hotel, according to confirmation from Panama's National Immigration Service on Wednesday. 

Since February 5, the US has deported at least 332 illegal Indian immigrants on three flights, all C-17 US military aircraft, which landed in Amritsar. The first flight on February 5 carried 104 deportees, the second on February 15 had 116, and the third on February 16 brought back 112. However, the deportation process has faced criticism, as deportees from the first two flights claimed they were shackled and handcuffed throughout their journey, leading to widespread outrage.