Coronades03, CC BY-SA 3.0
by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – A significant diplomatic clash unfolded over the weekend when Colombia rejected two planes carrying illegal immigrants from the United States. In response, U.S. President Trump threatened severe retaliatory actions. Moments after Trump made the threats, Colombian President Gustavo Petro backed down and offered to use his own presidential plane to facilitate the “dignified return of Colombian nationals” to their home country.
Over the weekend, as part of the Trump administration’s broad deportation initiative, two flights carrying Colombian nationals with criminal records and living illegally in the U.S. were scheduled to return to Colombia. However, Columbian President Petro refused to accept these individuals or permit the planes to land on Colombian soil.
“The U.S. cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals,” Petro said, according to a statement posted on X on Sunday.
He further stated, “I deny the entry of American planes carrying Colombian migrants into our territory. The United States must establish a protocol for the dignified treatment of migrants before we receive them.”
In response, President Trump posted on Truth Social, “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.”
Trump further stated, “Petro’s denial of these flights has jeopardized the National Security and Public Safety of the United States, so I have directed my Administration to immediately take the following urgent and decisive retaliatory measures.”
In response to Colombia’s actions, Trump threatened retaliatory measures, including 25% tariffs on Colombian goods, increasing to 50% in a week. He also announced a travel ban and visa revocations for Colombian officials and supporters, along with visa sanctions on their families. Trump also threatened enhanced customs inspections and the imposition of Treasury, banking, and financial sanctions under the IEEPA.
Trump concluded his TruthSocial post by stating, “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!”
Within minutes of Trump’s post, President Petro announced he would accept the illegal immigrants from Colombia and offered to facilitate what he described as a “dignified return of Colombian nationals,” according to The Hill.
However, it remains uncertain whether a trade war is imminent, as Colombia is threatening to impose a 50% tariff on U.S. goods in retaliation for Trump’s threats.
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