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Trump announces retaliatory measures after Colombia blocks U.S. deportation flights.
DDM News

President Donald Trump announced a series of retaliatory measures against Colombia on Sunday, including tariffs and visa sanctions, following Colombia’s refusal to accept two U.S. military deportation flights.
Diaspora digital media (DDM) gathered that these actions come after Colombian President Gustavo Petro blocked the flights, which were carrying around 80 Colombian nationals each, stating the government’s priority was to guarantee their dignified return.
Trump expressed his frustration in a post on Truth Social, claiming that Colombia’s actions were a violation of its obligations to accept deported nationals.
He wrote, “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!”
He emphasized that these retaliatory measures were just the beginning, vowing to take further actions if necessary.
According to U.S. officials from the Department of Homeland Security and the Defense Department, the flights, which were supposed to carry Colombian migrants from California back to Colombia, were initially cleared for landing.
However, the flights were grounded after Petro revoked diplomatic clearance for the aircraft at the last minute.
Petro’s office later clarified that the decision was made to ensure the return of the migrants under dignified conditions, not as a refusal to accept them.
Petro emphasized that Colombia was committed to treating its nationals with respect and would use a presidential plane to return them instead of military flights.
In response to this diplomatic conflict, Trump announced a range of retaliatory measures against Colombia.
These measures included the imposition of tariffs on Colombian imports, starting at 25%, which would increase to 50% within one week.
Additionally, Trump ordered visa sanctions against Colombian government officials and their allies.
These sanctions would also extend to the family members and supporters of Colombian officials.
He further indicated that U.S. customs inspections would be enhanced, and financial penalties would be applied to pressure Colombia to comply with U.S. deportation policies.
The trade relationship between the U.S. and Colombia is significant, with the total value of goods and services traded between the two nations estimated at $53.5 billion in 2022.
The U.S. exports more goods to Colombia than it imports, with key imports including oils, minerals, lime, cement, and agricultural products.
The imposition of tariffs could have a major impact on these trade dynamics, as Colombian exports are a vital part of the U.S. economy.
Colombian President Petro defended his government’s actions in a statement, insisting that the halt of the flights was not a refusal to accept its nationals but a move to ensure their humane treatment.
Petro noted that Colombia had arranged for a presidential plane to facilitate the return of the deported nationals under better conditions.
He also argued that migrants should not be treated as criminals, stating, “A migrant is not a criminal and should be treated with the dignity a human being deserves.”
The tensions between the U.S. and Colombia over deportations echo a broader regional frustration with U.S. immigration policies.
Recently, Mexico temporarily blocked two U.S. deportation flights, raising concerns over the treatment of migrants.
Petro’s comments reflect the growing discontent with using military aircraft for deportation purposes, a sentiment echoed by other countries, including Brazil.
Brazil condemned the degrading treatment of its nationals on a recent U.S. ICE repatriation flight, citing issues like handcuffing and broken air conditioning.
The conflict with Colombia is part of a broader pattern of tensions in U.S. immigration policy, particularly regarding deportations.
While some countries, such as Guatemala, have received deported nationals without incident, the blocking of flights by Colombia and other nations highlights the increasing international resistance to U.S. deportation practices.
These actions also come in the context of the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on illegal immigration, which includes not only deportation efforts but also increased military presence at the U.S.-Mexico border.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how Colombia will respond to Trump’s retaliatory measures and whether diplomatic negotiations can resolve the dispute.
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