12 Indians, deported by US to Panama, return to India

NEW DELHI: Twelve Indian nationals, who were deported to Panama by the US, returned to India from the Latin American nation on Sunday evening, officials told news agency PTI.

The deportees arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, marking the first batch of Indians returning from Panama following their deportation by the US.

The 12 Indians are reported to be part of 299 undocumented migrants deported to Panama by the US a few days back.

Four out of the total deported Indians were from Punjab. Among the four deportees, two were from Gurdaspur, one from Patiala and one from Jalandhar.

Earlier, three batches of illegal Indian immigrants were brought back from the US in a military aircraft on February 5, 15 and 16 amid a crackdown by the Donald Trump government against illegal immigrants.

Many people from Punjab and other states, who entered the US through "donkey routes" -- an illegal and risky pathway used by migrants to enter America or other illegal means by spending lakhs of rupees -- are now facing deportation.

A group of about 50 Indian deportees from the US arrived in Panama last week. According to diplomatic sources, they have been temporarily relocated to the central American country before they are deported to India in a US aircraft.

Many of the people relocated to countries like Panama and Costa Rica, irrespective of their nationalities, have refused to return home, saying they won't be safe there. Indian government officials have said they will verify the citizenship of all individuals before accepting them back.

Around 350 illegal Indian migrants have already been deported to India by the US since President Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20.

Costa Rica earlier said it has agreed to serve as a "bridge" to repatriate illegal immigrants in the US, including from India and Central Asia.
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