In a recent development, twelve Indian nationals deported by the United States to Panama have successfully returned to India. The group arrived at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Sunday evening, marking the first instance of Indians returning home via Panama following U.S. deportation.
These individuals were among 299 undocumented migrants deported to Panama by U.S. authorities earlier this month. Of the twelve returnees, four hail from Punjab, specifically two from Gurdaspur, one from Patiala, and one from Jalandhar.
This event follows a series of deportations amid the Trump administration’s intensified crackdown on illegal immigration. Earlier in February, three batches of illegal Indian immigrants were repatriated from the U.S. to India via military aircraft on the 5th, 15th, and 16th. Many of these individuals had undertaken perilous journeys through “donkey routes,” illegal and hazardous pathways facilitated by unscrupulous agents, often at exorbitant costs.
Diplomatic sources indicate that approximately 50 Indian deportees had been temporarily relocated to Panama before arrangements were made for their return to India. Some migrants, irrespective of nationality, have expressed reluctance to return to their home countries, citing safety concerns. Indian authorities have stated that they will verify the citizenship of all individuals before facilitating their repatriation.
Since President Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, approximately 350 illegal Indian migrants have been deported from the U.S. to India. Costa Rica has also agreed to act as a transit point to repatriate illegal immigrants from the U.S., including those from India and Central Asia.
