Following Panama’s declaration of being a “bridge country” in the migrant crisis, hundreds of undocumented migrants entered the country. One of the country’s most luxurious hotels was transformed into a “temporary detention center” for 299 undocumented migrants deported from the US. Some migrants expressed their discontent with their 5-star captivity by hanging papers on the hotel’s windows.
In the US, the Trump administration promised to deport millions of people who entered the country illegally.
The luxurious Decápolis Hotel became a center for hundreds of migrants after Panama accepted to be a “bridge” country for deportees. The hotel offers ocean-view rooms to its guests. It also boasts two exclusive restaurants, a swimming pool, a spa, and private transportation services.
However, the Panamanian government announced on Tuesday that the hotel had been converted into a “temporary detention center” for the 299 undocumented migrants deported from the US. In one room of the hotel, two girls were caught on camera holding up a piece of paper with a message written on it on the window. The paper read, “Please help us”.
Some migrants raised their arms and crossed their wrists to indicate they were deprived of their freedom.
Others put up small signs with messages like “We are not safe in our country”. Out of the 299 undocumented migrants from India, China, Uzbekistan, Iran, Vietnam, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka, only 171 agreed to return to their home countries.
The rest are facing an uncertain future, with Panama authorities being the ones to determine what happens next.
The government announced that this group would be transferred to a camp where migrants heading towards the US are temporarily housed. On a regular day, tourists can freely come and go at the Decápolis Hotel, but now heavily armed members of the Panamanian National Naval Force are enforcing strict security measures inside and outside the building. From the street, hanging laundry can be seen on the windows. One of the items is the legendary player Kobe Bryant’s yellow 24 Los Angeles Lakers basketball jersey.