Colombian President Proposes Relocation of Statue of Liberty
Colombian President Gustavo Petro recently made headlines by suggesting that the Statue of Liberty should be moved from New Jersey to Cartagena, Colombia. His comments came during a televised address where he discussed various topics, including Colombia’s healthcare system and financial struggles. However, he quickly shifted focus to express his strong disapproval of U.S. immigration policies, particularly criticizing the crackdown on illegal immigration initiated under former President Donald Trump.
During his speech, Petro condemned the Illegal Immigration Detention Center at the Dade Collier Training and Transition Airport, referring to it as the “Wannial Catraz.” He raised questions about how immigrants are treated, stating, “Are they going to treat us like slaves in the chains of planes? They think we are inferior… Only Hitler believes that,” emphasizing the need for change in perception.
He further criticized the notion of visiting Alcatraz in Florida, labeling it a crime against humanity and reaffirming the importance of democracy and freedom. Petro remarked, “That statue in New York… You will need to move to Cartagena,” highlighting the historical significance of black freedom fighters near Cartagena, where the first free territory in the United States, San Bacilio de Palenque, was established.
Hours before his televised address, Petro took to social media urging Trump not to open the facility, asserting, “Migration is a human right,” and advocating for conditions that promote progress across the Americas.
Petro, the first leftist president in Colombian history and a former member of the M19 group, has been a vocal critic of U.S. immigration policies. His controversial decisions have previously led to tensions between Colombia and the U.S., including a diplomatic crisis last January when he resisted U.S. airlines evacuating Colombians. This led to retaliatory measures from Trump’s administration.
In June, Petro again stirred controversy when he was accused by Secretary of State Marco Rubio of collaborating with far-right Colombian leaders against U.S. interests. Petro later issued a letter apologizing for his remarks about Rubio, as both nations worked towards restoring diplomatic relations. The situation escalated with the U.S. government revoking visas from Colombian officials linked to the M19 group, a move Petro downplayed after mentioning he wasn’t troubled by his own revoked U.S. visa.
Petro’s comments on immigration have stirred further debate. Just hours after the November 2024 elections, he criticized Hispanic Americans who supported Trump, accusing them of “kicking the ladder” to prevent other immigrants from attaining similar opportunities.
