A Turkish Airlines flight carrying 12 Indian nationals—deported from Panama—landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Sunday morning, marking the fourth repatriation flight under a new international collaboration. These individuals were part of a larger group of 299 undocumented migrants expelled by the United States while attempting to cross into American territory.
This latest repatriation is the first instance of Indian deportees returning from Panama, as the United States, Panama, and Costa Rica join forces to expedite the deportation of undocumented migrants from various Asian countries. The arrangement primarily targets individuals who have resisted returning home or whose native governments have yet to approve their repatriation, with Panama serving as a crucial transit hub.
Among the 12 repatriated Indians, four hail from Punjab, three from Haryana, and three from Uttar Pradesh, while one individual’s identity remains unconfirmed. Notably, four residents from different districts of Punjab were routed to Amritsar on a connecting flight.
While the overall count of Indian nationals among the 299 deported migrants remains unclear, these individuals arrived in Panama on three separate flights last week following an agreement between Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino and the US administration.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is actively verifying the identities of the deportees. “We have seen reports regarding deportation flights to Panama. New Delhi is verifying the details to ascertain if the individuals concerned are indeed Indian nationals,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during his weekly briefing. “Once the verification is complete, arrangements will be made for their return home.”
This development comes as the US government ramps up its efforts to deport undocumented migrants—a policy that previously saw 332 Indian nationals returned as part of the Trump administration’s initiative to expel illegal immigrants. Among the 299 undocumented migrants currently in Panama, only 171 have reportedly agreed to return to their respective countries, with plans for the remaining individuals still to be disclosed.