The White House announced Sunday that the Colombian government has agreed to President Donald Trump’s demands to accept deportation flights of illegal migrants, marking a swift resolution to the escalating diplomatic standoff between the two nations.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Colombia will now “unrestrictedly accept all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on U.S. military aircraft, without limitation or delay.”
READ: Colombia Sends Presidential Plane To Honduras To Get Migrants Amid U.S. Dispute
As a result, Trump’s administration will hold off on imposing a 25% tariff on all Colombian imports — which was set to double to 50% within a week. However, Leavitt added that enhanced customs inspections and visa restrictions on Colombian officials will remain in place “until the first planeload of Colombian deportees is successfully returned.”
“The Government of Colombia has agreed to all of President Trump’s terms, including the unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on U.S. military aircraft, without limitation or delay. Based on this agreement, the fully drafted IEEPA tariffs and sanctions will be held in reserve, and not signed, unless Colombia fails to honor this agreement,” said Leavitt. “The visa sanctions issued by the State Department, and enhanced inspections from Customs and Border Protection, will remain in effect until the first planeload of Colombian deportees is successfully returned. Today’s events make clear to the world that America is respected again. President Trump will continue to fiercely protect our nation’s sovereignty, and he expects all other nations of the world to fully cooperate in accepting the deportation of their citizens illegally present in the United States.”
Earlier on Sunday, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced his decision to send the presidential plane to Honduras to repatriate Colombian nationals originally scheduled for deportation flights. In a statement, the Colombian government emphasized its commitment to ensuring the “dignified return” of its citizens, asserting that no Colombian would be denied reentry into their homeland.
The sudden reversal comes after the Trump administration took a hardline stance in response to Colombia’s initial refusal to accept two deportation flights carrying migrants deemed “illegal criminals.”
In response to Colombia’s rejection, Trump swiftly announced a series of economic and diplomatic actions, including:
- Emergency Tariffs: A 25% tariff on all Colombian imports, with a planned increase to 50% within a week if compliance was not met.
- Travel Ban & Visa Revocations: Immediate revocation of visas for Colombian government officials and their allies.
- Visa Sanctions: Sanctions targeting members of Petro’s government, their families, and supporters.
- Enhanced Border Inspections: Stricter U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) screenings of Colombian nationals and cargo.
- Financial Sanctions: Restrictions imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), limiting Colombian financial institutions’ access to U.S. markets.
“These measures are just the beginning,” Trump warned in a social media post. “We will not allow the Colombian government to violate its legal obligations regarding the acceptance and return of the criminals they forced into the United States.”
Trump’s aggressive response threatened significant economic consequences for Colombia, a key exporter of coffee, flowers, and other agricultural products to the U.S. Business analysts estimated that the tariffs could have severely impacted Colombia’s economy and bilateral trade agreements.
The escalating tensions also raised concerns over long-standing U.S.-Colombia cooperation on counter-narcotics and regional security efforts. Diplomatic experts warned that the dispute could set a precedent for other countries reluctant to accept U.S. deportation flights.
READ: Vance Tells Bishops Who Have Been Outspoken Against Trump Border Policies To ‘Look In Mirror’
While Trump’s administration is touting the agreement as a victory, it remains to be seen whether the Colombian government will fully comply with future repatriation efforts. Political observers suggest further diplomatic negotiations may be needed to prevent additional disputes.
As the first deportation flight is set to depart in the coming days, the Trump administration is standing firm in its broader immigration enforcement agenda, signaling to other nations that failure to cooperate could result in similar punitive measures.
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