By Sarah Baafi
President Donald Trump announced significant retaliatory measures against Colombia after the country denied entry to two U.S. deportation flights carrying undocumented migrants. In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, “I have just been informed that two repatriation flights from the United States, with a large number of illegal criminals, were not allowed to land in Colombia.” He characterized Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s actions as jeopardizing U.S. national security and public safety.
In response, Trump imposed a 25% emergency tariff on all Colombian imports, set to escalate to 50% within a week. He also announced a travel ban and immediate visa revocations for Colombian officials and their supporters, alongside enhanced customs inspections for Colombian nationals. “These measures are just the beginning,” Trump emphasized.
Colombian President Petro defended his decision, arguing that migrants should be treated with dignity and stating, “A migrant is not a criminal and should be treated with the dignity that a human being deserves.” He insisted that deportation flights must utilize civilian aircraft rather than military ones.
This diplomatic standoff marks the first instance of the Trump administration employing tariffs as a response to immigration-related issues with another nation. The situation has escalated tensions between the U.S. and Colombia, with both leaders standing firm on their positions regarding migrant treatment and repatriation protocols.
