A group of Indians has arrived in south American country Panama. The group is part of nearly 300 individuals who have been deported from the US as part of US President Donald Trump's deportation drive. Besides Indians, the group of 300 people includes illegal migrants from Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, China and Afghanistan.
Embassy of India in Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua on Thursday made a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) and said that Panamanian authorities had conveyed Indian embassies information about their arrival in the country. The Indian embassy said that the Indian deportees were "safe and secure at a Hotel with all essential facilities".
Multiple media reports said that the Indian deportees were seen crying for help from their hotel windows saying that they were not safe in India.
The 300 deportees have been sent to Panama as the country is acting as a 'bridge' in US efforts to deport illegal migrants to their home countries.
Only 171 of the deportees have agreed to go back to country of their origin. Press Trust of India (PTI) has reported that ninety-eight refused to go back. They have been sent to a camp in Panama's Darien province.
US President Donald Trump has been especially assertive in deporting illegal migrants since his inauguration on January 20 this year.
A total of 332 Indians have been sent back to India in three batches so far. The US used military planes to send back the deportees.
