A tense situation has unfolded in Panama City, where hundreds of deportees from the United States are stranded in a hotel, holding up handwritten signs from their windows with pleas for help. Messages like “We are not safe in our country” and “Please help us” highlight their desperation as they remain under police watch, unable to leave.

According to reports, nearly 300 migrants, primarily from China, India, Iran, and Vietnam, are stuck in Panama after the country agreed to serve as a transit hub for individuals the US was unable to deport directly. While Panamanian officials insist the migrants are not being detained, their uncertain legal status has drawn criticism.

Security Minister Frank Abrego revealed that while 171 of the 299 deportees have agreed to return home, around 40% are refusing voluntary repatriation, leaving their fate uncertain. In the meantime, authorities plan to move the remaining individuals to a temporary migration facility near the treacherous Darien Gap, a key crossing point for migrants heading to the US.

The controversy deepened after a Chinese woman reportedly escaped from the hotel with outside assistance. Officials have warned that anyone aiding such escapes could face human trafficking or smuggling charges.

As tensions rise, questions remain about how long these migrants will be held and what their future holds.