"Undocumented Migrants Deported from the US Held in Panama Hotel with Pleas for Help"

"Currently housed in the upscale Decápolis Hotel, 299 undocumented migrants deported from the US endure restrictive conditions while appealing for humanitarian assistance. Despite their luxury surroundings, many are fearful of returning to their home countries and lack legal representation."

In the upscale Decápolis Hotel in Panama City, a poignant message emerges from a window where two girls plead, "Please help us." This hotel—known for its sea views, fine dining, and leisure facilities—has been repurposed as a temporary sanctuary for 299 undocumented migrants deported from the United States, according to the Panamanian government.

As the Trump administration escalated its immigration enforcement and deportation efforts, these migrants arrived on three different flights last week after Panama's President José Raúl Mulino designated his country as a "bridge" for US deportations. Among the group, which includes individuals from nations such as India, China, and Iran, only 171 have agreed to return home, leaving the remaining individuals uncertain about their futures.

Heavy security is now the norm at the Decápolis Hotel where armed members of the Panamanian National Aeronaval Service monitor the premises. From the outside, onlookers can see laundry hanging in the windows, including a Los Angeles Lakers jersey, and adults displaying signs that express their distress. Messages like "Help us" and "Please save the Afghan girls" are prominently visible.

An Iranian woman, currently residing in Panama, communicated with one of the detainees, reporting that they lived in fear of being forcibly returned to Iran. The migrants remain confined, forbidden from leaving even for meals. Legal representation is reportedly unavailable, heightening anxiety as the Panamanian government reinforces measures to limit their communication with the outside world.

Panama's Minister of Public Security, Frank Ábrego, asserted the necessity for stringent measures to ensure the safety of Panamanian citizens while the deportees remain under their custody. He clarified that those unwilling to return home would need to seek refuge elsewhere, potentially with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Critics are questioning the conditions of detention and the lack of legal guidance available to these individuals. Many come from regions that are not willing to accept their deportation from the US, complicating the repatriation process and straining Panama as it navigates diplomatic negotiations on their behalf.

While the arrangement allows the US to distance itself from the repercussions of these deportations, experts warn about the humanitarian implications for those caught in this bureaucratic limbo. Later this week, additional deportation flights are expected to reach Costa Rica, further expanding this complex immigration situation across Central America.