12 Indians Deported from US via Panama Arrive in Delhi on Fourth Repatriation Flight

A Turkish Airlines flight carrying 12 Indian nationals, deported from Panama, landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Sunday morning India time. These individuals were part of a larger group of 299 illegal immigrants expelled by the United States while attempting to cross into American territory. This marks the first instance of Indian deportees being repatriated from Panama under a new international collaboration.

The United States, alongside Panama and Costa Rica, is facilitating the deportation of undocumented migrants from various Asian countries. This arrangement primarily targets individuals who have either resisted returning home or whose native governments have not yet approved their repatriation. Panama has emerged as a ‘bridge’ nation in this process, allowing for the transit and eventual return of these migrants.

The latest batch of deported Indians included four from Punjab, three from Haryana, and three from Uttar Pradesh, while the identity of one individual remains unconfirmed. According to sources, four residents from different districts of Punjab were sent to Amritsar on a connecting flight.

The overall count of Indian nationals among the 299 migrants sent to Panama remains unclear. These individuals arrived in Panama on three different flights last week, following an agreement between Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino and the US administration.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India is currently working to verify the identities of the deportees. “We have seen reports regarding deportation flights to Panama. New Delhi is verifying the details to ascertain if the individuals concerned are indeed Indian nationals,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during his weekly briefing. He added, “Once the verification is complete, arrangements will be made for their return home.”

Under its intensified immigration policies, the US government has ramped up efforts to deport undocumented migrants. The latest batch of deportees adds to the 332 Indian nationals previously sent back to India as part of the Trump administration’s pledge to remove millions of illegal immigrants from the country.

Among the 299 undocumented migrants currently in Panama, only 171 have reportedly agreed to return to their respective countries. The remaining individuals’ status and plans for repatriation are yet to be disclosed.