Trump announces retaliation measures after Colombia blocks military deportation flights from us

President Donald Trump said on Sunday he would introduce sweeping retaliatory measures against Colombia, including customs and visa sanctions after it refused access to two US military deportation flights.

“These measures are just the beginning. We will not allow the Colombian government to violate its legal obligations with regard to the criminal acceptance and return they forced to the United States!” Trump wrote about truth social.

Officials from the Department of Homeland Security and the Defense Ministry confirmed to NBC News that flights were denied.

The flights carried out on the US military C-17 aircraft went from California by approx. 80 Colombian migrants each, defense official told NBC News.

In response, Trump announced to Truth’s Social Sweeping Recruitment Measures, which include Customs on Colombian imports, visa sanctions against government officials and allies, improved customs inspections and financial sanctions as the United States accuses Colombia of violating its obligations to accept deported citizens.

Trump justified the measures by writing that President Gustavo “Petro’s denial of these flights has jeopardized national security and public security in the United States.”

He added that the tariffs on Colombian import would start with 25% on all goods and would rise to 50% in a week.

The retaliatory measures also include “a travel ban and immediate visa -defocations on the Colombian government officials and all allies and followers,” wrote Trump as well as “visa sanctions on all party members, family members and supporters of the Colombian government.”

Petro answered saying That Trump’s actions “don’t scare me,” Addition That Colombia is “not anyone’s colony.” He instructed Colombia’s Foreign Minister of Foreign Affairs To raise customs rates on imports from the US by 25% and to direct exports to “the whole world other than the US”

He added that US goods whose price would rise in the national economy must be replaced by national -produced goods, something that the government alleged would help achieve.

According to U office for u.S. Trade RepresentativeThe total estimated value of goods and services Trade between the United States and Colombia by 2022 was $ 53.5 billion, with the value of exports slightly exceeded the value of imports.

ONECcording to Bureau of Industry and SecurityThe top US imports from Colombia in recent years were oils and minerals, lime and cement, a total of over 40% of imports and agricultural products added up to over 26% of imports.

Colombia honor soldiers and original people who helped save missing kids
Colombian President Gustavo Petro speaks in Bogotá on June 26, 2023.Sebastian Barros / Nurphoto via Getty Images file

Originally cleared for landing, the flights were grounded after Petro suddenly recalled all diplomatic approvals for them, the official said.

In a statement later, Petro’s office wrote that the flights were not stopped because he did not want to ease the return of Colombic back in his country, but because the government prioritized “worthy conditions” for the migrants.

“The Colombia government led by President Gustavo Petro has arranged the presidential plan to facilitate the worthy return of Colombian nationals who were to arrive in the country today in the morning hours coming from deportation flights,” the statement states.

It added: “This measure responds to the government’s obligation to guarantee worthy conditions. In no way, Colombians, such as patriots and rights topics, have been or will be banished from Colombian territory.”

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Mexico temporarily blocked two US aircraft with 80 passengers each from landing last week, frustrating deportation plans and triggered tensions. While the question was resolved, Mexican officials have expressed resistance to the unilateral acts of the United States around immigration policy.

In a statement of X, Petro criticized the use of military aircraft for deportation.

“A migrant is not a criminal and should be treated with the dignity that a human deserves,” he wrote. “We will receive our citizens of civilian aircraft without treating them as criminals. Colombia must be respected. “

The Brazilian government condemned what it described as the degrading treatment of its citizens who were on an immigration and customs enforcement refresher on Friday with reference to the use of handcuffs, a broken air conditioner and other violations of a bilateral agreement that ensures human treatment .

On Friday, Guatemala received about 265 deported nationals on three flights from the United States, two of which were military aircraft, according to the Guatemalan Migration Institute.

The flights are part of the Trump administration’s crash in illegal immigration, which was initiated through executive orders in Trump’s first week in office. Alongside deportation efforts, the administration has deployed an additional 1,500 troops to the US -Mexico border to strengthen enforcement.