Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) announced he would introduce legislation to impose new sanctions on Colombia after Colombian President Gustavo Petro refused to accept two deportation flights from the United States.
“This week, I will introduce legislation that would impose new sanctions on Colombia for denying @realdonaldtrump’s immigrant deportation flight,” Moreno wrote “Proud to have my colleagues @senatortimscott @Realannapaulina & @byrondonalds on board,” wrote X in a post.
Moreno's announcement comes after Petro initially refused to accept “two flights, including two flights containing a total of 160 forced migrants.” Posted by X, Petro criticized He added that the United States treats “Colombian immigrants as criminals” and that Colombia will not accept migrants abroad until protocols are established for the “dignified treatment of immigrants.”
“I deny the intrusion of American planes carrying Colombian migrants to our territory,” Petro said. “The United States must establish protocols for the dignified treatment of immigrants before we receive them.”
President Donald Trump in response to Petro's refusal to accept deportation flights from the United States wrote In a post on Society of Truth that he directed his administration to “immediately take the following urgent and decisive retaliatory measures”:
– Emergency 25% tariff on all goods entering the United States. In one week, the 25% tariff will be increased to 50%.
– Travel ban and immediate visa cancellation for Colombian government officials and all allies and supporters.
– Visa sanctions against all party members, family members, and supporters of the Colombian government.
– Enhanced customs and border security inspections of all Colombian citizens and national security shipments.
-IEEPA Treasury, banking and financial sanctions are fully imposed.
“These steps are just the beginning,” Trump added. “The Colombian government will not allow them to violate the legal obligations regarding the admission and return of criminals that they have imposed on the United States!”
In response to Trump's threat, Petro initially refused to accept deportation flights and said he would “personally send the president's plane to pick up deported immigrants.”
