Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Sunday offered his presidential plane to repatriate migrants returning from the United States, responding to President Donald Trump’s stern warning.
The move came after President Trump attacked the South American country in retaliation in response to Petro’s refusal to accept deportation flights. Petro, a former member of M-19, a Marxist guerrilla terrorist organization that killed hundreds of people, capitulated to President Trump’s demands with surprising speed. President Trump told Fox News that Petro has completely reversed course after being threatened with tariffs.
The Colombian government said in a statement translated from Spanish that the plane would help facilitate a “dignified return.”
“The Colombian government, under the direction of President Gustavo Petro, has arranged a presidential plane to facilitate the dignified return of our compatriots, who were due to arrive in Colombia this morning from a deportation flight.” It’s in the statement. .
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President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Colombian President Gustavo Petro over the weekend. (Getty Images)
“This measure responds to the government’s commitment to guaranteeing decent conditions.”
This weekend, U.S. authorities sent two flights of Colombian illegal immigrants as part of President Trump’s deportation program. Petro refused to fly, saying the United States “cannot treat Colombian immigrants as criminals.”
“We will deny entry to our territory to any U.S. military aircraft carrying Colombian migrants,” Petro said. “Before the United States accepts immigrants, it must establish procedures to treat them with dignity.”
In response, President Trump imposed a number of penalties, including an order imposing a 25% tariff on all goods imported into the United States from Colombia.
President Trump said the tariffs would rise to 50% in a week. The president also ordered travel bans and visa cancellations for all Colombian government officials and “allies and supporters.”
“These steps are just the beginning. We will not allow the Colombian government to violate its legal obligations regarding the admission and return of criminals forcibly brought to the United States!” Trump warned.
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President Gustavo Petro speaks at the International Workers’ Day march in Bogota, Colombia, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
“I was just informed that two repatriation flights from the United States carrying numerous illegal criminals were not allowed to land in Colombia,” President Trump wrote on Truth Social. “This order was issued by Colombia’s Socialist President Gustavo Petro, who is already very unpopular among the population.”
“Petro’s denial of these flights jeopardized the national security and public safety of the United States, and I have directed the administration to immediately take the following urgent and decisive retaliatory measures.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement Sunday about the agency’s visa restrictions in partial implementation of President Trump’s order and “enforcing and prioritizing America First policy.” .
“In response to President Petro’s refusal to accept two repatriation flights previously authorized, Secretary Rubio immediately ordered the suspension of visa issuance at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Bogota,” the State Department said in a statement. “Secretary Rubio is currently authorizing travel sanctions against individuals and their families involved in disrupting U.S. repatriation flights.”
“The measures will continue until Colombia fulfills its obligations to accept the return of its nationals.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection acted similarly quickly, enforcing President Trump’s orders.
The agency has taken “robust measures,” including strengthening inspections of flights, private aircraft, and cargo to and from Colombia, denying boarding to visa holders who display the flag, and coordinating with DOS to ban Colombian officials from traveling. He said that
On Sunday afternoon, Petro issued a similar threat to Trump, claiming he had ordered the foreign trade minister to “increase tariffs on U.S. imports by 25%.”
“The department should support exports to all parts of the world outside of the United States,” the translated post said. “Our exports should be expanded.”
Petro then issued a lengthy rant about raising tariffs to 50%.
“I hear that you are imposing a 50% tariff on the products of our human labor to enter the United States, and I will do the same,” the translated X Post said.
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Former President Trump headlines the Republican National Committee’s donor retreat on May 4, 2024 in Palm Beach, Florida. (Donald Trump 2024 Campaign)
Amid the ups and downs between Petro and Trump, Chairman Mike Johnson took to social media to warn that “Colombia and all countries should be on guard.”
“Congress is fully prepared to pass sanctions and other measures against those who do not fully cooperate or comply with our demands in admitting our nationals who are in the United States illegally,” Johnson said. I wrote. “President Trump, as he says, is putting America first, and Congress will implement policies that strengthen his policies.”
Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
