A group of 170 deportees from the United States were transferred from the hotel in Panama City to Metetí, in the province of Darién.

La Estrella de Panamá learned that the group of migrants was transferred to the Metetí area after 10:30 pm on Tuesday, February 18.

This group is part of the 299 deportees from the United States, who began arriving in Panama City on Wednesday, February 12.

During Thursday’s press conference, President José Raúl Mulino revealed that the first group had arrived and that it was made up of 119 migrants from Asia and India.

Following a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Mulino revealed that Panama was considering establishing facilities to house migrants in the Nicanor area, in Metetí, Darién.

Mulino explained that the Metetí runway was wide and could accommodate the planes to transport these migrants.

On February 15, the third group of migrants arrived in Panama. They were staying at a hotel in the commercial area of ​​Marbella.

Security Minister Frank Ábrego revealed on Tuesday that a group of 171 people deported by U.S. immigration authorities had already agreed to return to their country of origin.

In addition to Panama, Guatemala and Costa Rica have agreed to accept these deportees, most of whom also come from Asia and India.

Meanwhile, the Ombudsman of Panama, after visiting and interviewing the group of deportees from the United States at their hotel, recommended that the National Migration Service issue a resolution determining the status of these people in Panamanian territory while the repatriation or resettlement procedures are being processed.

For her part, The New York Times journalist Julie Turkewitz explained to Radio Panama that Panama now has a challenge with the arrival of these deportees.

Turkewitz noted that hundreds of migrants have been trapped in the hotel since February 12.

“The Panamanian government has said that they are not detained, but they have told us that they cannot leave the hotel, they are there under armed guard 24/7,” Turkewitz said.

According to Turkewitz, this group of migrants was brought to the Darien region against their will. “Many people say they want to seek asylum in Panama,” the journalist stressed.