They have accepted the deportation terms.
The White House announced that Colombia has agreed to comply with all of President Donald Trump’s conditions after he threatened sanctions, including tariffs and visa restrictions, following Colombia’s refusal to allow two U.S. military deportation flights. According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Colombia will now accept all illegal immigrants returned from the U.S. on military aircraft without delay. Trump’s proposed sanctions will be withheld unless Colombia fails to honor the agreement, though other measures such as visa sanctions and enhanced customs inspections will remain until the first deportation flight is completed.
Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo confirmed that Colombia would continue to accept its deported citizens and emphasized that they would be treated with dignity. He mentioned that under President Gustavo Petro, the presidential plane would be used to facilitate the deportees’ return. Murillo also stressed the importance of maintaining diplomatic communication to ensure the protection of Colombian citizens’ rights.
Earlier in the day, Colombia’s refusal to accept the deportation flights led Trump to threaten significant retaliatory actions, including tariffs on Colombian imports and visa sanctions for Colombian officials. Trump argued that Colombia’s decision endangered U.S. national security and public safety. The flights in question, which carried around 80 Colombian migrants each, were grounded after Colombia revoked diplomatic clearance for them.
In response to Trump’s threats, President Petro stated that the actions did not intimidate him and that Colombia is not subservient to any other nation. Petro directed his foreign trade minister to raise tariffs on U.S. imports and to encourage local production to counter potential price increases from the U.S. trade restrictions. The Colombian government explained that the flights were halted not to avoid accepting deportees but to ensure they were returned under dignified conditions.
This conflict highlights growing tensions around U.S. immigration policy and deportation practices. Other nations, such as Brazil and Guatemala, have expressed concerns about the treatment of their nationals during deportation flights, particularly regarding the use of military planes. The deportation efforts are part of the Trump administration’s broader immigration enforcement measures, which include increased military presence at the U.S.-Mexico border.
