The U.S. has begun sending hundreds of migrants — including from China, India, Pakistan, and Vietnam — to remote sites in Central America, in a chaotic and confusing deportation drive, multiple news agencies report.
One group of about 300 migrants arrived in Panama City from the U.S. earlier this week and were being held at a hotel under police guard ahead, BBC reported. More than half have agreed to be deported to their country of origin, and Panama plans to move the remaining 100+ migrants to a camp in Darién province, BBC said.
The migrants hail from India, China, Uzbekistan, Iran, Vietnam, Turkey, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, the report said.
Another U.S. deportation flight of mostly Asian migrants was headed Thursday to Costa Rica, NBC News reported.
Since taking office in January, the Trump administration has carried out a frenzied increase in arrests and deportations, ostensibly to expel criminals but without due process.
The Trump administration has also suspended asylum claims, cancelled long-scheduled asylum appointments, sent U.S. troops to the southern border, reinstated “remain in Mexico” measures, and revoked Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for migrants fleeing armed conflicts.
The multi-pronged campaign has caused fear and confusion in immigrant communities across the country, advocates say.
Immigration advocates have been ramping up “know your rights” campaigns to make clear that ALL people in the United States have Constitutional rights against search and seizure.
Click here for FREE “know your rights” cards in 16 languages, from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center.
(Pictured: Detail from IRLC “know your rights” card.)
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What about the illegal immigrants from Ireland and the UK? Russia? Oh that’s right. They’re not ‘brown’.