Panama/New Delhi: Panama on Thursday denied claims that the Indian deportees who arrived in the country from the US were being "deprived of their freedom" after the migrants were seen holding signs up to hotel windows, pleading for help.

Panama's Public Security Minister Frank Abrego said the migrants were not being "deprived of their freedom" while they await repatriation. "They are in our custody for their protection," he added. Police were seen guarding the Decapolis Hotel in Panama City, where women believed to be part of the group held up handwritten signs to journalists below saying, "Please help us" and "We are not safe in our country." The group includes migrants from China, India, Iran and Vietnam.

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The Embassy of India in Panama, Costa Rica & Nicaragua took to X on Thursday to share the information that Panamanian authorities have informed that a group of Indians have reached the US but did not provide data on the number of Indians arriving in Panama. "They are safe and secure at a Hotel with all essential facilities. The embassy team has obtained consular access. We are working closely with the host Government to ensure their wellbeing," it said. The group of Indians is part of a larger group of 299 migrants sent to Panama by the US government.

The deportees arrived on three flights after President Jose Raul Mulino agreed that Panama would become a "bridge" country for deportees. The Trump administration has pledged to deport millions of people who crossed illegally into the US. Three batches comprising a total of 332 Indians have already been sent back to India from the US amid an intensified crackdown by the Trump administration against illegal immigrants.

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Out of the 299 undocumented migrants who landed in Panama, only 171 have agreed to return to their countries of origin. Nearly 98 deportees who refused to voluntarily be repatriated to their countries have been sent to a camp in Panama's Darien province.

Costa Rica is the second country that agreed to serve as a “bridge” to repatriate illegal immigrants in the US.
(With inputs from PTI & AFP)

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