The White House says Colombia has agreed to accept repatriated migrants back into the country after Colombia turned back two US military planes carrying two US military planes on Sunday, resulting in the death of US President Donald Trump. There have been several tariff threats between Trump and his/her Colombian counterpart Gustavo Petro, CNN. Informed.
After Petro rejected military planes from landing, saying “the US cannot treat Colombian migrants like criminals,” Trump ordered an “emergency 25 percent tariff” on all imports from Colombia in one week. would increase to 50 percent, a “travel ban” for Colombian citizens, and the revocation of visas for Colombian officials in the US.
In a post shared on TruthSocial, Trump wrote, “These measures are just the beginning. We will not allow the Colombian government to violate its legal obligations regarding the acceptance and return of forced criminals to the United States! ,
Following Trump’s announcement, Petro threatened to impose a 25 percent retaliatory tariff increase on the US in a series of social media posts targeting Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The Colombian President said he/she was against the use of military aircraft and the treatment of migrants. However, he/she left the door open for Colombia to accept unauthorized migrants traveling on civilian planes, CNN reported.
On Sunday evening, White House Press Secretary Carolyn Leavitt said that the US and Colombia had agreed to “unrestricted acceptance” of Colombian migrants and that they would be allowed to enter the country “without limitation or delay, including by US military aircraft”. Will allow. ,
In the statement, Leavitt said the U.S. will not sign off on the tariffs or economic sanctions Trump ordered “unless Colombia fails to honor this agreement.” he/she announced that tariffs and financial sanctions would be halted. However, she announced that the visa ban against Colombian officials and strict customs inspections of Colombian citizens and cargo ships ordered by Trump on Sunday will remain in effect “until the first planeload of Colombian deportees is successfully returned.”
Shortly after the White House statement, Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo said US deportation flights had resumed. The trade threats marked the first time Trump took major action against another country over its immigration policy since he/she took office on Jan. 20.
In a statement on Sunday afternoon, Rubio announced that Colombian authorities had approved two military planes carrying migrants to Colombia and then rescinded the order after the planes were en route.
“Colombian President Petro had authorized the flights and provided all the necessary authorizations and then revoked his/her authorization once the planes were in the air,” Rubio said. As demonstrated by today’s actions, we are unwavering in our commitment to end illegal immigration and dismantle America’s border security. ,
Following Rubio’s statement, Petro disputed the allegations that he/she had given permission. “I will never allow Colombians to be brought on flights in handcuffs,” he/she said. Marco, if Foreign Ministry officials allowed it, it would never be in my direction. ,
he/she even asked US citizens living in Colombia illegally to “regularize” their stay, without mentioning further details. In a post on X, he/she wrote, “American citizens who want to do so can be in Colombia, I believe in human freedom.” “You will never see me burning the American flag or conducting a raid to deport handcuffed illegal immigrants to America,” Petro said.
It was previously reported that Petro said US officials were surprised and disappointed that he/she was blocking US deportation flights from entering Colombia. The US State Department said the US Embassy in Bogotá had suspended visa processing in retaliation for Colombia’s refusal to accept repatriation flights.
The suspension applies to immigrant and non-immigrant visas, which typically number in the thousands each day. According to the statement, Rubio also approved “travel restrictions on individuals and their families who were responsible for the interference of U.S. repatriation flight operations.”
Last week, the US began using military aircraft to fly border crossers back to their countries of origin. On Thursday, the US used military planes to fly migrants to Guatemala. White House border czar Tom Homan said Sunday that he/she expected military planes to continue deporting migrants daily, partly as a message to other countries.
Speaking to ABC News, Homan said the US Defense Department “has helped administrations before, but not at this level. So this is a force multiplier, and it’s sending a strong signal to the world. Our border is closed. Is. “
The US is also calling on Mexico to help repatriate its citizens through land ports of entry along the US-Mexico border; However, Mexico also seemed to have a military flight flying to the country last week.
Brazil also criticized the Trump administration’s handling of repatriated migrants on deportation flights who arrived in the country on Friday, calling the treatment of Brazilian citizens “outrageous.”
Brazilian authorities said they put 88 in handcuffs on a US flight traveling to Belo Horizonte, Brazil, which arrived in Manaus due to a “technical error”, CNN reported. Brazilian authorities did not clear the plane to continue due to “the use of handcuffs and chains, the poor condition of the aircraft, a faulty air conditioning system, among other problems,” and the migrants were flown to a Brazilian air force. Moved to Manaus in . flight.