"Help us:" 300 migrants including Pakistanis deported by US held in Panama hotel

At least 300 people, including Pakistanis, remain in indefinite detention at a hotel in Panama after being listed for deportation by US authorities in compliance with an order from former President Donald Trump.

The immigrants would not be allowed to travel to their countries until the administration completes arrangements for their repatriation. 

Frustrated by their indefinite confinement, detainees sought help by displaying handwritten signs at their windows, as they were restricted from leaving their rooms. 

A French news agency quoted the officials, saying illegal immigrants wrote the messages “help us” and “we are not in our country” on the windows of the room.

The migrants hailed from 10 Asian countries, including Pakistan, India, Iran, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, China and others. 

Read: Handcuffed and chained Indian migrants deported from US arrive home on military craft

Their detention in Panama follows a proposal from the country’s president, José Raúl Molina, who offered temporary accommodation for migrants.

Panama's Security Minister, Frank Abrego, stated that the migrants were being accommodated under his country's immigration accord with the US. 

He added with the help of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), at least 171 of them were convinced to repatriate while they were talking to other 128 so that they would be transported to another country. 

“Those who do not agree to go back will be temporarily held in a facility in remote Darien province,” Abrego added. 

Earlier, in a press conference, Mr Abrego said that the government was keeping the migrants in the hotel in an effort to “guarantee security and peace for Panamanian citizens.”

However, Panama’s deputy foreign minister, Carlos Ruiz-Hernández,  already described the migrants as “having no criminal records.”

The security minister said the deportees were only in temporary custody of Panamanian officials. “Custody sounds bad,” he said. “They’re under our protection.”