Colombia blocks deportation flights; Trump retaliates with tariffs
Colombia is the next country, after Mexico, to refuse acceptance of a plane with deported immigrants from the USA. U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he has ordered "urgent and decisive retaliatory measures."
President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, announced on Sunday that he has decided to block deportation flights from the United States. "The U.S. cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals," the politician declared.
"A migrant is not a criminal and must be treated with the dignity that a human being deserves. That is why I returned the U.S. military planes that were carrying Colombian migrants," Petro later explained on platform X.
"I cannot force migrants to remain in a country that does not want them. However, if that country decides to deport them, it must be done with dignity and respect for them and for our country. Using civilian aircraft, without treating them like criminals. Then, we will welcome our compatriots. Colombia respects itself," added the President of Colombia.
Trump faces a challenge and responds firmly
This is another instance of a country refusing to accept U.S. planes with illegal immigrants on board—Mexico was the first. This raises questions about the success of Trump's deportation campaign.
The U.S. President chose to respond to the Colombian leader’s decision, offering some harsh criticisms.
"I was just informed that two repatriation flights from the United States, with a large number of Illegal Criminals, were not allowed to land in Colombia. This order was given by Colombia’s Socialist President Gustavo Petro, who is already very unpopular amongst his people," Donald Trump wrote on his profile on the platform Truth Social.
"Petro's denial of these flights has jeopardized the National Security and Public Safety of the United States," and that, therefore, he had "directed my Administration to immediately take the following urgent and decisive retaliatory measures," Trump announced.
Tariffs, visas, inspections: "These measures are just the beginning"
What measures are being referred to? The implementation of "extraordinary 25% tariffs" on all goods imported from Colombia to the USA. These tariffs are additionally set to increase to 50% within the next week.
The Trump administration will also impose a travel ban and immediately revoke visas for Colombian government officials and "all its allies and supporters." Visa sanctions are also to be imposed on all party members, family members, and supporters of the Colombian government.
Customs and border controls for all Colombian citizens and goods from that country will be heightened "for national security reasons."
Under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which grants the president special powers "to respond to any unusual and extraordinary threat to the United States, originating wholly or substantially outside the United States," there are plans to impose full treasury, banking, and financial sanctions on Colombia.
"These measures are just the beginning. 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," Trump announced on his profile.
