The White House said that Colombia backed down and agreed to accept repatriated citizens on military flights, after Donald Trump threatened major sanctions.
In a dramatic diplomatic clash on Sunday, Colombia agreed to resume accepting its deported citizens sent back from the United States, just hours after President Donald Trump threatened to impose severe tariffs in response to Colombia’s defiance. This came after a standoff where Colombia’s left-wing President Gustavo Petro had refused to accept deported citizens on U.S. military aircraft, insisting that his citizens be returned with “dignity” and preferably on civilian flights.
Earlier, Petro had turned away two U.S. military planes carrying repatriated Colombians. In a move that shocked many, President Trump quickly escalated the situation, threatening Colombia with tariffs starting at 25 percent, which could rise to 50 percent. Trump, who had just returned to office, expressed fury over Colombia’s resistance to his mass deportation plans. He made it clear that he was willing to use economic pressure to make Colombia comply.
Despite initially pushing back, Petro, who took office in 2022 as Colombia’s first left-wing president, eventually agreed to accept the deported individuals, signaling the resolution of the standoff. Petro had previously warned the U.S. not to treat Colombian migrants as criminals, and his government had even offered to send Colombia’s own presidential plane to pick up deported citizens to avoid the U.S. military aircraft. However, after hours of tense negotiations, Petro’s administration reversed its stance.
Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo announced late Sunday that Colombia had “overcome the impasse” and would accept the return of its citizens without any further conditions. This was a significant diplomatic win for Trump, who quickly issued a statement saying that Colombia had agreed to “unrestricted acceptance” of all deported Colombian nationals, including those returned on U.S. military aircraft.
The White House also expressed satisfaction, claiming that the agreement showed that “America is respected again,” signaling a renewed stance of sovereignty under the Trump administration. It was a strong assertion of the U.S. government’s expectation that all nations cooperate fully with the deportation of their citizens illegally present in the U.S.
In response to the resolution, President Trump temporarily suspended his proposed tariffs. However, the situation had already sparked significant tension, especially considering Colombia’s historical relationship with the United States, marked by a free-trade agreement and generally friendly diplomatic ties. The U.S. had been one of Colombia’s staunchest allies in Latin America, but this standoff raised concerns about future relations.
As a further measure of pressure, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whose wife is Colombian-American, imposed visa restrictions on Colombian officials and their families. These restrictions would remain in place until the first deportation flight from the U.S. arrived in Colombia. Rubio also hinted at increased scrutiny for Colombians traveling to the U.S., a move aimed at ensuring stricter enforcement of U.S. immigration policies.
The diplomatic incident also brought to light concerns over the treatment of deported migrants. Trump had previously made his harsh stance on immigration a central part of his campaign and early presidency, with promises to swiftly deport undocumented individuals. While several countries, including Guatemala, had cooperated with military deportation flights, Colombia’s rejection highlighted the growing resistance from some Latin American governments to U.S. immigration policies under Trump.
Petro’s rejection of the military aircraft and the treatment of Colombian migrants as criminals drew strong criticism from right-wing figures in Colombia and the U.S. Former Colombian president Iván Duque accused Petro of acting irresponsibly, claiming that Colombia had a moral duty to accept its citizens and warning of the potential economic consequences of continued defiance.
This tense moment comes amidst broader discussions of immigration policy and human rights in the region. Colombia’s leftist government has often criticized the U.S. for its handling of immigration issues, and Petro himself expressed his belief that the U.S. should not treat undocumented Colombian migrants as criminals. He even pointed out that there were over 15,000 undocumented Americans in Colombia, though he ruled out any raids to arrest or deport them. Petro’s government had previously offered to transport deported citizens back on their own terms, but the pressure from Trump proved too great.
Meanwhile, other Latin American countries were also expressing frustration over U.S. immigration practices. Brazil, another U.S. ally in the region, condemned the treatment of Brazilian deportees earlier in the week. Brazilian migrants sent back on a U.S. deportation flight were reportedly shackled and denied basic rights, including access to water or bathroom breaks, during the flight. Brazilian officials decried this as a violation of human dignity.
Honduras, led by left-wing President Xiomara Castro, called for an urgent meeting of Latin American leaders to discuss the escalating U.S. immigration policies and their impact on the region. This came in response to the U.S.’s continued use of military aircraft for deportations, which many in Latin America see as a symbol of disrespect for their sovereignty.
The situation also raised broader concerns about the treatment of migrants. As many as 11 million undocumented people are believed to be living in the United States, and most of them are from Latin American countries. The tension between the U.S. and its Latin American allies, especially in regard to deportations, seems likely to remain a significant point of contention in U.S.-Latin American relations for the foreseeable future.
In the end, Colombia’s agreement to accept deported citizens ended the standoff, but the diplomatic fallout over the treatment of migrants and the use of military flights may continue to affect relations between the U.S. and Colombia, as well as other Latin American nations.