Colombian President Gustavo Petro has rescinded his declaration that his country would not accept deportation flights from the United States. He has now said he will send a presidential plane to personally pick up deported immigrants, a U.S. official familiar with the matter told Breitbart News.
Colombia's back-Petro comes after President Donald Trump announced he would impose a number of sanctions on Colombia, including an “emergency 25% tariff” in response to Petro withdrawing its promise to accept deportation flights. Ta.
On Sunday, Petro initially said it would accept deportation flights from the United States, but later refused to accept two flights carrying a total of 160 deportable migrants. proposed He changed his mind about accepting the plane because the US treats Colombian immigrants as “criminals.”
Petro then called on the United States to “establish procedures for the dignified treatment of immigrants before admitting them.”
President Trump responded to the issue on Sunday. real social posts“We just received word that two repatriation flights from the United States carrying a large number of illegal criminals were not allowed to land in Colombia,'' the statement said.
“This order was given by Colombia's Socialist President Gustavo Petro, who is already very unpopular among the people,” Trump continued. “Petro's denial of these flights endangers U.S. national security and public safety.”
In response, President Trump announced that he had directed his administration to “immediately take the following urgent and decisive retaliatory measures.”
– Imposing a 25% emergency tariff on all goods imported into the United States. The 25% tariff will be raised to 50% within a week.
-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.
-Intensified customs and border security inspections of all Colombian citizens and cargo for national security reasons.
-IEEPA financial, banking and financial sanctions will be imposed across the board.
“These steps are just the beginning,” Trump added. “We will not allow the Colombian government to violate its legal obligations regarding the admission and repatriation of criminals forcibly brought to the United States!”
Additionally, U.S. officials told Breitbart News on Sunday that the U.S. Embassy in Colombia is scheduled to close on Monday after Petro withdrew its commitment to accept deportation flights.
On Sunday, the Colombian government issued a follow-up statement confirming “the participation of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean in the Extraordinary General Assembly to be convened on January 30.”
“This meeting will be an opportunity to address strategic challenges in the region, including cooperation on migration, protection of human rights and strengthening relations between Member States,” the statement added.
Alana Mastrangelo is a reporter for Breitbart News. you can follow her facebook And with X @ARmastrangeloand further Instagram.
