International

Colombia Sends Plane to Repatriate Migrants After Trump Clash

Published

3 months ago

Jan 28, 2025.

Colombia sends plane for deported migrants.
Trump threatened Colombia with tariffs.
Petro agrees to accept deportees.

Colombia dispatched a military aircraft on Monday to repatriate 110 deported Colombians from the United States, following a heated diplomatic standoff between President Gustavo Petro and U.S. President Donald Trump over deportation practices.

The Colombian Air Force plane departed from Bogotá to San Diego, equipped with medical personnel.

Editor’s Pick

Another flight is scheduled in the coming days to bring more migrants home, according to Colombia’s foreign ministry.

The row began when Petro, a left-wing former guerrilla, defied Trump’s mass deportation policy, refusing to accept deported Colombians flown on U.S. military planes.

Petro demanded that migrants be returned via civilian flights and treated with dignity, citing concerns about their criminal-like treatment.

His stance echoed outrage in Brazil, where deported migrants had been shackled during flights.

Petro initially vowed to stand firm but quickly reversed course after Trump threatened Colombia with trade sanctions, tariff hikes, and the suspension of U.S. visa processing.

The White House hailed the outcome as a victory for Trump, stating that Colombia agreed to take back “all illegal aliens.” Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo clarified that the government would continue to receive deported nationals, ensuring “dignified conditions” for their return.

Petro’s resistance drew mixed reactions at home. Former President Iván Duque called Petro’s actions “tremendously irresponsible,” while some Colombians, like student Cristian Espinal, criticized Petro’s “hasty” approach, particularly after U.S. visa services were suspended.

Trump has ramped up deportations since returning to office a week ago, deporting thousands of migrants to Central and South America.

His use of military aircraft for deportations marks a departure from past practices, raising tensions across the region.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum minimized the impact of Trump’s actions, stating that the 4,000 migrants deported in his first week were consistent with historical averages.