After Donald Trump’s threats of severe economic and diplomatic repercussions due to their refusal to accept deported migrants from the U.S., Colombia quickly changed its stance.
In response to President Trump’s online announcement of a 25% tariff on Colombian imports and the immediate revocation of visas for government officials, the nation capitulated within just two hours.
President Gustavo Petro of Colombia intervened to stop two U.S. military planes carrying deportees from landing in the country on Sunday, during a significant deportation operation targeting individuals who had entered the U.S. unlawfully.
Additionally, some countries have complained that their citizens have gotten off of the deportation flights in handcuffs and say the U.S. forces are not treating their citizens well.
Not even two hours after Trump announced his retaliatory efforts against Colombia, Petro released a letter offering his 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 decent conditions,’ the letter adds.
It’s not clear if Colombia’s president will allow future deportation flights to enter or if this is a one-time offer.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro backed down after President Donald Trump threatened tariffs and diplomatic sanctions on Sunday when he refused to allow two U.S. Military flights full of illegal migrants to touchdown in Colombia on Sunday
But it’s a major back down after Trump used the sanctions for Colombia’s refusal to cooperate as a warning shot to other Central and South American nations who might refuse to comply with his plan to send flights of migrants back to their countries of origin.
Trump announced on his Truth Social account he is imposing a 25 percent tariff on all goods coming from Colombia – and the punishment will rise to 50 percent in one week’s time.
‘I have directed my Administration to immediately take the following urgent and decisive retaliatory measures,’ Trump wrote on Sunday afternoon.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio released a statement on the back-and-forth, claiming that Petro had previously authorized the deportation flights and then canceled them once the planes were already en route.
‘President Trump has made it clear that under his administration, America will no longer be lied to nor taken advantage of,’ he said.
‘It is the responsibility of each nation to take back their citizens who are illegally present in the United States in a serious and expeditious manner.’
‘Colombian President Petro had authorized flights and provided all needed authorizations and then canceled his authorization when the planes were in the air,’ Rubio added. ‘As demonstrated by today’s actions, we are unwavering in our commitment to end illegal immigration and bolster America’s border security.’
Mexico and Colombia refused to let the military aircraft land with migrants. Now Trump iw working with El Salvador to send migrants from third-party nations there. Pictured: Migrants deplane a U.S. military aircraft after it landed in Guatemala on January 24, 2025
Trump ordered a 25 percent tariff and visa revocation of Colombian government officials after the president refused to let migrant deportation flights land on Sunday
Some countries claim their residents have not been treated well while in U.S. custody and complain that they are being returned in handcuffs
Trump announced the tariffs, as well as his imposition of ‘A Travel Ban and immediate Visa Revocations on the Colombian Government Officials, and all Allies and Supporters’ on social media.
All ‘party members, family members, and supporters of the Colombian government’ also will face visa sanctions, according to Trump’s social media announcement.
It is unclear what actions were taken behind the scenes to get the sanctions underway before Petro walked back on his actions.
‘These measures are just the beginning,’ the president warned. ‘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 ran into early roadblocks with his plans for mass deportation of illegal immigrants this week when Mexico and Colombia both refused to let flights land in their countries.
There were 80 migrants on board each of the two flights bound for South America when the aircrafts’ clearances were pulled to land in Colombia.
Now, the Trump administration is working on a deal with El Salvador to accept migrants from third-party nations, which would block them from seeking asylum in the U.S.
Mexican authorities also blocked the U.S. aircraft from deporting illegal immigrants to their country this week.
It is not clear why Mexican authorities blocked the flight – especially after the country’s Naval forces were seen erecting a temporary shelter to accept back those who crossed illegally over their northern border into the U.S.
Deporting migrants to foreign countries requires permission from the incoming nation’s government.
Mexico and Colombia have refused to let U.S. Military aircraft carrying illegal migrants land on their countries’ soil as Donald Trump ploughs ahead with his mass deportation plan
Trump announced on Truth Social on Sunday that he instructed his administration to impose sanctions and tariffs on Colombia and its government officials after the President refused to allow two separate military flights of migrants land back in their country
Trump signed approximately 10 executive orders related to illegal immigration and the migrant border crisis on his first week back in the Oval Office.
But a plane packed with migrants did not take off from the U.S. after Mexico said it would not permit it to land on their soil.
The flight was one of three that were set to take off on Thursday.
The other two were bound for Guatemala carrying over 150 people – and successfully completed their missions when the government allowed the aircraft to land with deported migrants.
Defense Department officials confirmed last week that their forces plan to fly 5,400 migrants who are currently in detention out of the U.S. on deportation missions.
The aircrews and maintenance teams involved in the missions are in addition to the 1,500 active duty Soldiers and Marines who deployed to the border last week.
Four C-17 and C-130 military aircraft were moved to El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California this week, an official told Task & Purpose, in preparation for the deportation flights.
In his first moments back as president, Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border.
Trump plans to send 10,000 active duty troops to the border as he directed the Defense Department to take ‘full operational control’ of addressing the national security crisis.
