WASHINGTON, DC – A diplomatic feud has erupted after Colombia refused entry to two U.S. military flights carrying deportees. In response, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced tariffs and visa restrictions on Colombia, sparking heated debate.
Critics have labeled Trump’s policies “dictatorial,” and his latest actions seem to underscore this view. He revealed sanctions targeting Colombian President Gustavo Petro and other officials, intensifying tensions between the two nations.
The two military flights,expected to land this morning in Colombia, were turned away after President Petro objected to what he described as unfair treatment of Colombian nationals aboard.
Trump fired back on social media Sunday, writing: “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.”
In a press statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio backed Trump, emphasizing the administration’s tough stance on immigration.
““President Trump has made it clear that under his administration, America will no longer be lied to nor taken advantage of. It is the responsibility of each nation to take back their citizens who are illegally present in the United States in a serious and expeditious manner,” Rubio said.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro countered by highlighting the presence of over 15,000 illegal American residents in Colombia. He called on them to regularize their immigration status, further escalating the dispute.
The controversy follows Brazil’s compliance in accepting returned migrants, even though many were sent back in handcuffs and ankle shackles, prompting outrage.
In recent days, U.S. authorities have intensified raids targeting undocumented migrants, particularly in Democratic-led states, leading to widespread deportations.
This diplomatic clash underscores the broader challenges regional leaders are facing as President Trump and his allies pursue an aggressive overhaul of U.S. immigration policies and international relations.
