Colombia’s BOGOTA Following Colombia’s government’s rejection of two flights carrying migrants, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he was directing tariffs, visa restrictions, and other punitive actions to be taken against the country.
Trump claimed that the actions were required because Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s decision endangered American national security.
Trump stated on his social media platform Truth Social that these actions are only the first step. Regarding the reception and repatriation of the criminals they coerced into the United States, we will not permit the Colombian government to disregard its legal duties.
Petro stated earlier on Sunday that until the Trump administration establishes a procedure that handles them with respect, his government will not allow aircraft that carry migrants who have been deported from the United States. Petro announced the news in two X posts, one of which featured a news video showing migrants who were allegedly deported to Brazil strolling on a tarmac while wearing hand and foot cuffs.
According to Petro, a migrant is not a criminal and ought to be treated with the respect that all people are entitled to. I returned the American military aircraft that were transporting migrants from Colombia for that reason.
A request for comment from The Associated Press about aircraft and procedures used in deportations to Colombia was not immediately answered by the U.S. authorities.
Petro went on to say that Colombians would be transported to his nation in civilian aircraft and would not suffer the same treatment as criminals.
His administration is deploying active-duty military personnel to assist with border security and deportation efforts as part of a rush to fulfill Trump’s campaign pledges to tighten down on illegal immigration.
Early Friday, two Air Force C-17 cargo planes that were transporting migrants who had been taken out of the United States landed in Guatemala. Two deportation planes carrying 193 individuals arrived in Honduras on the same day.
