President Donald Trump announced sweeping retaliatory measures against Colombia on Sunday after the South American country refused to allow two U.S. military deportation flights carrying Colombian migrants to land. The measures, including tariffs on Colombian imports, visa sanctions, enhanced customs inspections, and financial penalties, mark the latest escalation in Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration and his push for stricter enforcement of international deportation agreements.
The blocked flights, which carried about 80 Colombian migrants each, were part of a larger effort to repatriate individuals who entered the United States illegally. Initially cleared for landing, the flights were grounded after Colombian President Gustavo Petro revoked diplomatic clearance for the military aircraft. The move follows a similar incident last week, in which Mexico temporarily denied entry to two U.S. deportation planes.
On Sunday, Trump took to Truth Social to condemn Petro's actions, stating, "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." He added, "Petro's denial of these flights has jeopardized the National Security and Public Safety of the United States."
In response, Trump announced an immediate 25% tariff on all Colombian imports to the U.S., with the rate set to double to 50% after one week if no resolution is reached. He also ordered a travel ban and visa revocations for Colombian government officials and their allies, along with enhanced Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspections of all Colombian nationals and cargo. "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 wrote.
Petro defended his decision to block the flights, criticizing the use of military aircraft for deportation and demanding more humane treatment of Colombian migrants. "The U.S. cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals. 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," Petro stated on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This diplomatic clash comes amid heightened tensions over Trump's aggressive immigration policies, which include deploying 1,500 additional troops to the U.S.-Mexico border and ramping up deportation efforts. According to Tom Homan, Trump's border czar, the administration is currently prioritizing deporting individuals with violent criminal records but aims to eventually target all undocumented migrants. Everyone who has entered the country illegally will soon be "on the table," Homan said.
The Colombian government is not alone in opposing the Trump administration's deportation practices. Last week, the Brazilian government condemned the treatment of its nationals on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) repatriation flight, citing the use of handcuffs and other conditions they deemed degrading. Similarly, Mexican officials have expressed frustration over what they perceive as the United States' unilateral approach to immigration enforcement.
Trump's retaliatory measures have drawn sharp criticism from Colombian officials, who argue that the U.S. is undermining bilateral relations. Analysts warn that the tariffs and sanctions could significantly impact Colombia's economy, which relies heavily on exports to the U.S., including coffee, flowers, and minerals.
