Colombia Cracks After Trump Vows Withering Sanctions for Refusal to Accept Deportation Flights: UPDATED

ICE flight

UPDATE: In a White House statement sent to media late Sunday, press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s office confirmed that the Colombia government agreed to all of President Trump’s terms, “including the unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on U.S. military aircraft, without limitation or delay.”

Trump agreed to hold the sanctions in reserve, “unless Colombia fails to honor this agreement.”

However, the White House spokesperson noted “the visa sanctions issued by the State Department, and enhanced inspections from Customs and Border Protection, will remain in effect until the first planeload of Colombian deportees is successfully returned.”

“President Trump will continue to fiercely protect our nation’s sovereignty, and he expects all other nations of the world to fully cooperate in accepting the deportation of their citizens illegally present in the United States,” the missive concluded.

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Colombian President Gustavo Petro reversed his initial refusal to accept U.S. deportation flights and is now offering his presidential plane to facilitate the return of Colombian nationals from the United States. In doing so, the South American nation was spared from a series of punishing sanctions President Trump outlined in a TruthSocial post on Sunday.

Sunday afternoon, less than three hours after Trump’s post announcing the sanctions, the Colombian government said it has “arranged for the presidential plane to facilitate the dignified return of the compatriots who were to arrive in the country this morning from deportation flights. This measure responds to the Government’s commitment to guarantee dignified conditions. In no way have Colombians, as patriots and subjects of rights, been or will be banished from Colombian territory.”

The use of U.S. military aircraft for deportation has been a contentious issue, with countries, including Columbia.

The turnaround comes on the heels of President Donald Trump’s announcement Sunday afternoon of a series of measures against Colombia for their denial of entry to two U.S. military deportation flights.

President Trump revealed that the flights, which he said carried a “large number of Illegal Criminals,” were denied permission to land by Colombian President Petro. The exact number of Colombian citizens on these flights was not disclosed, but each flight typically carries around 80 migrants, according to previous reports.

The sanctions Trump outlined included:

  • Economic Tariffs: An emergency 25% tariff on all Colombian goods entering the U.S., with a planned increase to 50% in one week. This move is seen as an economic blow aimed at influencing Colombian policy.
  • Travel Restrictions: A travel ban along with immediate visa revocations for Colombian government officials, their allies, supporters, and family members. This could severely limit diplomatic and personal travel from Colombia to the U.S.
  • Visa Sanctions: Further visa restrictions on members of the Colombian government, their families, and supporters, aiming to isolate Petro’s administration internationally.
  • Border Security: Enhanced inspections by U.S. Customs and Border Protection for all Colombian nationals and cargo at U.S. borders, citing national security concerns.
  • Financial Penalties: Implementation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose banking and financial sanctions on Colombia.

“These measures are just the beginning,” Trump said. “We will not allow the Colombian Government to violate its legal obligations with regard to the acceptance and return of the Criminals they forced into the United States!”

The move is consistent with immigration policy enforcement under the Trump administration, which has seen similar disputes with other nations like Mexico over deportation practices.

Meanwhile, Petro, who appears to be stung by the exchange, posted a lengthy statement on X. The retort is a political statement that seems to be designed for a domestic readership by Colombians.

“Trump, I don’t really like travelling to the US, it’s a bit boring, but I confess that there are some commendable things,” he began.

“I like going to the black neighbourhoods of Washington, where I saw an entire fight in the US capital between blacks and Latinos with barricades, which seemed like nonsense to me, because they should join together.”

The socialist went on to criticize Trump’s policies, particularly on fossil fuel. “I don’t like your oil, Trump, you’re going to wipe out the human species because of greed,” he wrote.

The Colombian president opined that there could be a time that the two men could meet, but, he quipped, “it’s difficult because you consider me an inferior race and I’m not, nor is any Colombian.”

In an all-caps moment of the 700-word commentary, Petro declared, “FROM TODAY ON, COLOMBIA IS OPEN TO THE ENTIRE WORLD, WITH OPEN ARMS, WE ARE BUILDERS OF FREEDOM, LIFE AND HUMANITY.”

He also announced a reciprocal economic measure, “I am informed that you impose a 50% tariff on the fruits of our human labor to enter the United States, and I do the same” – though it is unclear if the move will be in force.

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Christina Botteri is the Executive Editor of The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow her on X at @christinakb.

 

 

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One Thought to “Colombia Cracks After Trump Vows Withering Sanctions for Refusal to Accept Deportation Flights: UPDATED”

  1. Dan Smith

    “COLOMBIA FROM TODAY IS OPEN TO THE ENTIRE WORLD, WITH OPEN ARMS” – Thank you President Petro! The U.S. will send ALL our illegal immigrants living in the U.S. to Colombia! I am sure they will find a dignified and happy home in their socialist paradise 🙂

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