Luxury Hotel or Makeshift Prison? Hundreds of U.S. Deportees Trapped in Panama
In a high-end hotel where tourists once enjoyed ocean views and fine dining, desperate messages now appear on the windows: “Please help us.”
The Decápolis Hotel in Panama City, known for its luxurious accommodations, has turned into an unexpected holding center for 299 undocumented migrants deported from the U.S. Instead of guests sipping cocktails by the pool, there are migrants pressing handwritten pleas against the glass, begging for safety.
Luxury or Lockdown?
While the hotel boasts spa services, gourmet restaurants, and private transportation, those inside tell a different story. Many say they are trapped, unable to leave even for meals, and have been denied access to lawyers. Some raise their arms in a universal gesture of distress, while children hold signs reading, “Please save the Afghan girls.”
The situation escalated when reports of their confinement emerged. According to sources, internet access was abruptly cut off, and security tightened. The Panamanian National Aeronaval Service, armed and on high alert, now guards the building inside and out.
A Political Chess Game?
This crisis stems from an agreement between Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino and former U.S. President Donald Trump, making Panama a “bridge” country for deportees. The migrants—hailing from India, China, Uzbekistan, Iran, Vietnam, Turkey, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka—arrived on three flights last week.
But not all of them are willing to return home. Of the 299 deported individuals, only 171 have agreed to be sent back to their countries. The rest are now stuck in limbo, as Panama figures out their fate.
No Way Home, No Way Forward
Panama’s Minister of Public Security, Frank Ábrego, insists that these migrants are under “temporary custody for their protection” but has made it clear:
- They cannot stay in Panama.
- They must either return home or find a third country willing to take them.
For many, returning home isn’t an option. One Iranian woman, speaking in a hidden video recorded inside the hotel, revealed her fears:
“If I go back to Iran, I will be in danger. I need political asylum.”
Yet, without access to legal aid, seeking asylum is nearly impossible. Panama has openly stated that deportees will not be offered legal assistance.
A Growing Trend?
Panama isn’t alone. Costa Rica has also agreed to act as a deportation hub, with flights from the U.S. expected to arrive this week. The U.S., by sending deportees to Central America instead of directly to their home countries, is shifting the diplomatic burden onto these nations.
What Happens Next?
With no clear resolution in sight, the question remains: Will these migrants find safety, or will they be forced back into danger?
As international pressure builds, human rights organizations and immigration advocates are demanding answers. But for now, behind the glass windows of a luxury hotel-turned-detention center, hundreds of lives hang in uncertainty.
