Fourth Group Of Indian Deportees Land In Delhi Via Panama

India-West News Desk

NEW DELHI – A fourth group of Indian nationals deported from the United States arrived in New Delhi on February 23, officials confirmed. The deportees were flown back via Panama, which has become a transit hub for undocumented migrants expelled under U.S. policies.

The first large-scale deportation of Indian immigrants this year took place on February 5, when a U.S. military aircraft transported 104 individuals to Amritsar.

Amid growing criticism, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar defended the government’s response, stating that India has been in discussions with the U.S. to ensure deportees are treated fairly. He emphasized that such removals are not new and have been occurring for years.

Meanwhile, nearly 300 deported immigrants, including Indians, remain in a hotel in Panama as authorities work to facilitate their return. With 40% reportedly refusing voluntary repatriation, UN agencies are exploring alternative destinations, raising concerns over their confinement. The U.S. has been covering the costs while Panama serves as an intermediary.

President Donald Trump, who has made large-scale deportations a central policy, has defended the crackdown, stating that his administration is “draining the swamp by sending home fraudsters, cheaters, globalists, and deep state bureaucrats.”

Panama agreed to serve as a “bridge” country for deportees after President Jose Raúl Mulino struck a deal with the U.S., facilitating the Indian migrants’ transfer.