An agreement was reached late Sunday night between Colombian President Gustavo Petro and U.S. President Donald Trump to resolve a conflict over the repatriation of Colombian citizens from the United States.
Earlier in the day, tensions escalated when Petro blocked two U.S. military flights carrying undocumented Colombian immigrants from landing in the country.
In response, Trump issued a series of threats via his social media platform, accusing Petro’s decision of jeopardizing U.S. national security and public safety. Trump announced immediate measures, including a 25% tariff on Colombian goods entering the U.S., with plans to increase it to 50% within a week if the issue was not resolved. He also threatened a travel ban, visa revocations for Colombian officials and their allies, and expanded Customs and Border Protection inspections for Colombian nationals and cargo.
Trump stated he would use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose further economic sanctions if necessary. “These measures are just the beginning,” Trump wrote. “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!” However, no evidence was provided to support claims that Colombia had forced individuals into the U.S.
The Colombian Foreign Ministry confirmed the flight blockages, noting that the two U.S. military aircraft carried 160 passengers, though it was unclear if all were Colombian nationals.
“A migrant is not a criminal and must be treated with the dignity every human being deserves,” Petro said in a statement, which included a video showing Brazilian deportees handcuffed upon arrival in Brazil.
The Brazilian Foreign Ministry also issued a statement calling on the U.S. to clarify what it described as the “degrading treatment” of deportees.
This latest standoff underscores growing tensions between the two nations over immigration policies and treatment of migrants, with broader implications for diplomatic relations in the region.
