In response to escalating tensions with the U.S., Colombia has offered to cover the cost of deporting its citizens from the United States, the Colombian foreign ministry announced on Friday, January 31.
This offer comes just a week after a heated exchange between Colombian President Gustavo Petro and U.S. President Donald Trump over the deportation of illegal migrants.
The dispute began when Trump threatened to impose up to 50% trade tariffs on Colombia, following Petro’s refusal to allow U.S. military planes to transport deported migrants.
In retaliation, the U.S. embassy in Bogotá halted the issuance of visas from Monday to Friday, further intensifying the diplomatic standoff.
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Petro accused the U.S. of mistreating deported migrants, claiming they were shackled and handcuffed, a practice he said was dehumanizing.
However, in a shift towards meeting Trump’s demands, Colombia’s foreign ministry proposed to U.S. Special Envoy for Latin America, Mauricio Claver-Carone, that Bogotá would “immediately assume the transfer” of all Colombian citizens deported by the U.S., covering the costs of their transportation.
This development marks a change in Colombia’s approach, as Petro had previously emphasized the importance of returning migrants in a “dignified” manner.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Colombian military and civilian aircraft repatriated the first groups of deported citizens, including families and children, to Bogotá. Petro has insisted that none of the returnees were “confirmed criminals.”
Colombia is preparing for the return of approximately 27,000 migrants who have received deportation orders from either the Trump administration or former President Biden’s administration over the last six months.
With the U.S. being Colombia’s largest trade partner and a major contributor of aid for combating drug trafficking and terrorism, the diplomatic tension highlights the complex relationship between the two nations.
Trump’s administration has pledged to carry out the largest deportation campaign in U.S. history, focusing on undocumented immigrants, many of whom are from Latin America.
