Trump targets Colombia with harsh trade and visa measures
Colombia is the latest country, following Mexico, to refuse a plane carrying deported immigrants from the USA. U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he has ordered "urgent and decisive retaliatory measures."
The President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, announced on Sunday that he has decided to block deportation flights from the United States. "The USA cannot treat Colombian migrants like criminals," the politician declared.
"A migrant is not a criminal and must be treated with the dignity that a human being deserves. That is why I returned the U.S. military planes that were carrying Colombian migrants," Petro later explained on platform X.
The President of Colombia stated that migrants cannot be compelled to stay in a country where they are unwelcome. However, if deportation is carried out, it should be handled with dignity and respect for both the individuals and Colombia. This includes using civilian planes and avoiding treating deportees as criminals. Under such conditions, Colombia will accept its citizens, emphasizing the nation's self-respect.
Trump has a problem. He decided to respond strongly
Another country has refused to accept U.S. planes with illegal immigrants on board — Mexico was the first. This calls into question the success of Trump's deportation campaign.
The U.S. President decided to respond to the Colombian leader’s decision, not sparing him some harsh criticisms.
"I was just informed that two repatriation flights from the United States, with a large number of Illegal Criminals, were not allowed to land in Colombia. This order was given by Colombia’s Socialist President Gustavo Petro, who is already very unpopular amongst his people," Donald Trump wrote on his profile on the platform Truth Social.
"Petro's denial of these flights has jeopardized the National Security and Public Safety of the United States," and that, therefore, he had "directed my Administration to immediately take the following urgent and decisive retaliatory measures," Trump announced.
Tariffs, visas, inspections. "These measures are just the beginning"
What measures are being referred to? The "extraordinary 25% tariffs" on all goods imported from Colombia to the USA. These tariffs are additionally set to increase within the next week to 50%.
The Trump administration will also impose a travel ban and immediately revoke visas for Colombian government officials and "all its allies and supporters." Visa sanctions are also to be imposed on all party members, family members, and supporters of the Colombian government.
Customs and border controls for all Colombian citizens and goods from that country will be heightened "for national security reasons."
Under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which grants the president special powers "to respond to any unusual and extraordinary threat to the United States, the source of which is wholly or substantially outside the United States," there are plans to impose full treasury, banking, and financial sanctions on Colombia.
"These measures are just the beginning. 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 announced on his profile.
