‘Most inhuman, demeaning’: Congress questions deportation of illegal Indian immigrants from US to Panama

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, in a post on X, also said the deportations are taking place in a “most inhuman and demeaning manner”.

Ramesh wrote: “We would have thought that Indian citizens deported by the Trump Administration would be sent back to India with dignity. Such deportations have taken place in a most inhuman and demeaning manner.”

“Now come reports that more Indian citizens have been deported but to Panama. What is going on?” he added.

We would have thought that Indian citizens deported by the Trump Administration would be sent back to India with dignity. Such deportations have taken place in a most inhuman and demeaning manner.

Now come reports that more Indian citizens have been deported but to Panama.…

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) February 20, 2025

Why were the deportees sent to Panama, Costa Rica?

Amid Trump’s aggressive campaign against illegal immigrants, Panama and Costa Rica have agreed to help the US to manage the growing number of deportees and as a stopover for those belonging to countries that have refused to take back the migrants.

The 299 migrants in Panama belong to countries like India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, and Iran, among others. Similarly, Costa Rica agreed to receive 200 migrants from countries such as India, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, starting Thursday.

According to international law, the migrants are now under the jurisdiction of Panama and the US is no longer responsible for them.

According to the Panamanian government, 13 migrants have been repatriated to their origin countries. As many as 175 more have agreed to voluntarily return home, and are currently being housed at a downtown hotel, called the Decapolis. Several others have been shifted to a remote facility near the Darien jungle.

Visuals shared by news agencies outside the Decapolis Hotel showed several deportees waving at the reporters. Some held up signs asking for help.

‘Not detained’: What authorities say about the situation

In a press briefing, Panama’s Security Minister Frank Abrego denied they were being detained and said: “These people are not allowed to move around our country to guarantee the safety and the peace of Panamanian citizens. We are providing them with all the necessary medical, food and comfort services.”

Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica on Thursday said they have gained “consular access”, reassuring that the deportees are “safe and secure”.

Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaveshas said that the deportees could be held in a migrant shelter for up to six weeks before they are flown to their origin countries. He added that the country has accepted the illegal migrants at US expense

Earlier this month, over 300 immigrants of Indian origin were deported from the US to the country. Three flights carrying over 100 individuals each landed at the Amritsar airport from where arrangements were made to take them back to their home states.