Hundreds who were deported from us held at the Panama Hotel

In a room at the luxurious Decápolis Hotel in Panama, two girls grabbed the paper to the window with a written message. “Please help us,” reads.

The hotel provides its customer rooms with sea views, and has two exclusive restaurants, a swimming pool, a spa and a private transport. The Panamanian government said on Tuesday that this has now become a “temporary custody” center of 299 undocumented immigrants who were deported from the United States.

Some migrants raise their arms and cross them on the wrists to indicate that they are deprived of their freedom. Others hang small signs with other messages such as: “We are not safe in our country.”

The Trump administration has pledged to deport millions of people who illegally crossed to the United States. Those arrived at the Panama City Hotel on three trips last week, after President Jose Raul Molino agreed to become Panama as a “bridge” for the pans.

However, among the 299 uncomfortable immigrants – from India, China, Uzbekistan, Iran, Vietnam, Turkey, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka – only 171 agreed to return to their countries of origin.

The rest is now facing an uncertain future, which is the Panamanian authorities that control what is happening after that.

According to the government, this group will be transferred to a camp in Daryin County, which temporarily includes migrants and crossing the forest on their way to the United States.

On an ordinary day, tourists can easily enter and leave the Decápolis Hotel, but now armed members of the armed Aeronaval service, they impose strict security measures inside and outside the building.

From the street, washing can be seen hanging in a window. One of the elements is the yellow basketball shirt in Los Angeles Lakers with the number 24, worn by the legendary player Kobe Bryant.

In another window, a group of adults and three children raises their thumbs at their thumb at the comfort of their hand – the international symbol of those who need help. “Help”, written in red letters on the glass.

And two children with their faces are covered with paper against glass with the letter: “Please save Afghan girls.”

An Iranian woman who lived in Panama for several years told that the BBC was in contact with a migrant inside the hotel. She said they were “terrified” of the possibility of returning to Iran.

The woman, who asked not to be named, said that she went to the hotel to provide assistance to her as a Persian translator but they were told that they have already one.

She added, however, that people inside the hotel said this is not true.

Using a hidden mobile phone, given that contacting from outside the Decápolis Hotel is not allowed, Iranian women said that the immigrant told her that there are many children in the hotel, that they may deprive them of lawyers and that they are not allowed to do so leave their rooms even to eat.

After the story of the deportees who took place at the hotel was reported for the first time on Tuesday, the security measures that were placed in their place were tightened and the arrival of migrants was cut off on the Internet, the woman said.

BBC contacted both the Decapolis Hotel and the Panamanian government asking about the conditions in the building, but it did not receive a response.

However, the Minister of Public Security in Panama, Frank Urgo, said that it is not allowed to leave the hotel because his government must guarantee the safety and peace of the Banamia.

A video posted on social media on the weekend showed one of the immigrants describing in the Persian how they were detained after crossing the border to the United States and told that they would be transferred to Texas, but they ended up in Panama.

The woman said in the video that her life will be in danger if she returns to Iran because of the possible revenge of the government.

She said that her intention is to seek political asylum.

Analysts say this is difficult to obtain without accessing a lawyer – more than that when the Panamanian government announced that this access will not be submitted for deportation.

Minister Abigo said on Tuesday that the immigrants will be temporarily in Panama under the protection of the country’s authorities.

“What we agreed with the American government is that they are here and will remain in our temporary custody to protect them,” he said.

He also warned that these immigrants who did not want to return to their country of origin will have to choose a third country.

In this case, he said that the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) will be responsible for returning them home.

An IOM spokesman told the BBC that the organization is responsible for “providing basic support” to people deported from the United States.

“We are working with local officials to help the affected people, support the voluntary return of those who ask them and determine safe alternatives to others,” he said.

“Although we are not involved in detention or restriction of the movement of people, we are committed to ensuring that all migrants are treated with dignity and according to international standards,” he said.

ABREGO also said that the immigrants were staying at the Decápolis Hotel because of his ability to receive them.

Another senior official said, “The arrival of more immigrants is unexpected,” because no other trips of this kind have been agreed with the United States.

Panama agreed to be a “bridge” state to deport it after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the country, as tensions faded due to Trump’s threats to “recover” the sovereignty of the Panama channel.

Many deportees come from unprecedented countries to accept the return of citizens who have been deported from the United States.

“This involves continuing diplomatic negotiations with these governments,” he told the BBC.

“By sending them to Panama, the United States is outside the picture,” he added. “It is a headache to take over the responsibility of these negotiations and know how to make these countries agree to receive them again.”

This week, a journey that carries the deportees from the United States is expected to reach Costa Rica, another country in Central America that has agreed with Washington to become a “bridge” to pass.

Participated in additional reports by Hoshmandy, BBC Persian