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By Jesus Mesa
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Hundreds of migrants deported from the United States are being housed in a luxury hotel in Panama City, Panama, as part of a new strategy by the Trump administration, drawing criticism from human rights groups and migration advocates.
The Decapolis Hotel, known for its upscale accommodations and views of the Pacific Ocean, has unexpectedly become a holding center for deportees as they await word on their uncertain futures.
Why It Matters
Panama has become a key transit point for U.S. deportation policy under recent agreements between the two countries. On Friday, Panama received the first of three U.S. flights carrying deportees from other countries, as the Trump administration takes advantage of Panama's offer to serve as a stopover for expelled migrants.
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The migrants who arrived Wednesday had been detained after illegally crossing the U.S. border but had no criminal records, according to officials.
The agreement comes amid increased U.S. pressure on Panama over the Panama Canal. As President Donald Trump pushes to regain control of the waterway, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino offered his country as a transit hub for U.S. deportees, aiming to curb migration through the treacherous Darién Gap.
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What To Know
A New York Times report documented deportees, including families with children, pleading for help with signs and messages written in lipstick on windows of the Decapolis Hotel, where rooms average $91.40 per night. Of the 299 migrants housed there, 171 have agreed to return to their countries of origin.
Some migrants said their passports and most of their cellphones were taken away before they were locked in the hotel, denied access to lawyers and told they would soon be sent to a makeshift camp near the Panamanian jungle.
The hotel houses migrants primarily from the Middle East, Asia and Africa, many of whom remain in legal limbo after being deported from the U.S. under policies prioritizing rapid removals.
According to the report, many are desperate to avoid being sent back to their home countries because of fear of persecution or political instability. One migrant attempted suicide, while another broke his leg trying to escape.
The growing desperation has driven some families to social media for help, including a 10-member Iranian family fearing legal repercussions if deported to Tehran. In a video shared on X, formerly Twitter, they said they have requested asylum from the Panamanian government.
The use of high-end hotels as migrant holding centers has sparked mixed reactions. Muzaffar Chishti, a senior fellow at the Migration Policy Institute, told The New York Times that the arrangement is part of "a totally new era of enforcement," in which Washington is pressuring other nations to participate in its deportation system.
"Such postures send a powerful and disturbing message to many Latin Americans," echoed Michael Shifter, a Georgetown University professor and former president of the Inter-American Dialogue, a think tank focused on Western Hemisphere affairs.
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Lawyers consulted by The New York Times said that in Panama it is illegal to detain people for more than 24 hours without a court order.
The Panamanian government has defended its handling of the deportations, saying that it is simply adhering to international agreements and that the U.S. government is funding the repatriation process through the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
"They are under Panama's protection," Panamanian Security Minister Frank Ábrego said at a press conference on Tuesday, emphasizing that IOM and UNHCR are overseeing their repatriation. It is unclear who is covering the cost of accommodations.
Newsweek reached out to the Decapolis Hotel and the U.S. Secretary of State for comment on Tuesday.
What People Are Saying
Tricia McLaughlin, spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, in a statement: "Not a single one of these aliens asserted fear of returning to their home country at any point during processing or custody. They were properly removed from the country."
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on Fox News on February 11: "We're going to have a good outcome with the Panamanians. Look, they're good friends. I mean, the president of Panama is very pro-American. And they've got to work through their own internal processes."
Michael Shifter, Georgetown University professor and former president of the Inter-American Dialogue, told Newsweek: "There is nothing new, of course, about U.S. deportation flights to the region, which have regularly taken place under previous administrations. What is different today is the complicated politics surrounding that issue, the aggressive rhetoric coming from Washington, and threat of punitive measures, not diplomacy, if U.S. demands are not met."
What Happens Next
While some migrants have agreed to return to their home countries—including one Irish woman who has already been sent back to Dublin—others are resisting repatriation and seeking asylum in Panama or other countries. Ábrego said that 171 migrants had consented to return, but for those who refuse, "they must choose a third country where the IOM guarantees their safe return."
Panama has not offered asylum directly, though migrants can apply for refugee status through its National Office for Refugee Assistance (Onpar), he added.
Update 02/18/25 07:08 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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