Trump orders tariffs, visa restrictions on Colombia over rejection of deportation flights

Folks stroll outdoors Colombia’s consulate, after U.S. President Donald Trump stated he would impose retaliatory measures after the South American nation turned away two U.S. army plane with migrants being deported, in New York Metropolis, U.S. January 26, 2025.
| Photograph Credit score: Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Sunday (January 26, 2025) that he was ordering tariffs, visa restrictions and different retaliatory measures to be taken in opposition to Colombia after its authorities rejected two flights carrying migrants.

Mr. Trump stated the measures had been obligatory, as a result of the choice of Colombian President Gustavo Petro “jeopardized” nationwide safety within the U.S.

“These measures are only the start,” Mr. Trump wrote on his social media platform Fact Social. “We won’t enable the Colombian Authorities to violate its authorized obligations with regard to the acceptance and return of the Criminals they compelled into the US.”

Earlier on Sunday, Mr. Petro stated that his authorities will not settle for flights carrying migrants deported from the U.S. till the Trump administration creates a protocol that treats them with “dignity.” Mr. Petro made the announcement in two X posts, one in every of which included a information video of migrants reportedly deported to Brazil strolling on a tarmac with restraints on their fingers and toes.

“A migrant will not be a prison and should be handled with the dignity {that a} human being deserves,” Mr. Petro stated. “That’s the reason I returned the U.S. army planes that had been carrying Colombian migrants.”

Colombia accepted 475 deportation flights from the US from 2020 to 2024, fifth behind Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and El Salvador, in keeping with Witness on the Border, an advocacy group that tracks flight knowledge. It accepted 124 deportation flights in 2024.

Final 12 months, Colombia and different nations started accepting U.S.-funded deportation flights from Panama.

The U.S. authorities did not instantly reply to a request for remark from The Related Press relating to plane and protocols utilized in deportations to Colombia.

Mr. Petro, a former leftist guerrilla, added that his nation would obtain Colombians in “civilian airplanes” and “with out therapy like criminals.”

As a part of a flurry of actions to make good on U.S. President Donald Trump’s marketing campaign guarantees to crack down on unlawful immigration, his authorities is utilizing active-duty army to assist safe the border and perform deportations.

Two Air Pressure C-17 cargo planes carrying migrants faraway from the U.S. touched down early Friday in Guatemala. That very same day, Honduras acquired two deportation flights carrying a complete of 193 folks.

In saying what he referred to as “pressing and decisive retaliatory measures,” Mr. Trump defined that he ordered “25% tariffs on all items coming into the US,” which might be raised to 50% in a single week. He stated he additionally ordered “A Journey Ban and fast Visa Revocations” on Colombian authorities officers, allies and supporters.

“All Occasion Members, Household Members, and Supporters of the Colombian Authorities,” Mr. Trump wrote will probably be topic to “Visa Sanctions.” He did not say to which occasion he was referring to or present any extra particulars on the visa and journey restrictions.

Mr. Trump added that each one Colombians will face enhanced customs inspections.