The White House announced Sunday night that President Trump will postpone enacting high tariffs on Colombia after the government of that nation consented to the repatriation of deported migrants on military aircraft.
The Colombian government over the weekend stopped the arrival of deportation flights from the U.S., protesting the Trump administration’s plans to use military planes to deport migrants, prompting Mr. Trump to pledge rapid and punitive reprisal early on Sunday.
On Sunday, Mr. Trump announced on social media that his administration would impose a 25% duty on all goods entering the United States from Colombia, which he claimed would be increased to 50% after a week.
A travel restriction and “immediate visa revocation” for Colombian government officials and “their allies” were also announced by him, along with visa sanctions for Colombian officials and their family members and tighter customs checks on Colombian passengers and goods.
“The Colombian government has agreed to all of President Trump’s terms, including the unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on U.S. military aircraft, without limitation or delay,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement late Sunday night. Unless Colombia breaches this agreement, the fully drafted IEEPA tariffs and punishments will remain in reserve and not be signed.
“The visa sanctions issued by the State Department, and enhanced inspections from Customs and Border Protection, will remain in effect until the first planeload of Colombian deportees is successfully returned,” according to Leavitt’s statement.
In a statement, Colombia’s Foreign Ministry announced that the country had “overcome the impasse” with the United States and that its ambassador and foreign minister will visit Washington, D.C., “in the next few hours” to continue the conversation about the accord.
“We will continue to receive Colombians who return as deportees, guaranteeing them dignified conditions, as citizens subject to rights,” according to the Foreign Ministry.
In its statement, the ministry stated Colombia’s presidential plane would be used to return migrants who were supposed to be deported on Sunday morning, but it made no mention of U.S. military aircraft.
The actions of Mr. Trump, according to a senior administration official early Sunday, sent “a clear message” to nations that they “have an obligation to accept repatriation flights.”
“Your blockade doesn’t scare me,” Colombian President Gustavo Petro wrote on social media before Sunday night’s accord was announced. He also stated that Colombia will impose a 50% tariff of its own on U.S. exports in retaliation for the increased duties. As for the travel ban, Petro remarked, “I don’t really like traveling to the U.S., it’s a bit boring.”
Petro further prophesied that the United States might “try to carry out a coup with your economic strength and your arrogance, like they did with Allende…. Overthrow me, President, and the Americas and humanity will respond,” according to it.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement that Colombia must return people who are in the United States illegally “in a serious and expeditious manner.”
“Colombian President Petro had authorized flights and provided all needed authorizations and then canceled his authorization when the planes were in the air,” Rubio stated. “As demonstrated by today’s actions, we are unwavering in our commitment to end illegal immigration and bolster America’s border security.”
The State Department verified later on Sunday that Rubio had “ordered a suspension of visa issuance at the U.S. Embassy Bogota consular section.”
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“Secretary Rubio is now authorizing travel sanctions on individuals and their families, who were responsible for the interference of U.S. repatriation flight operations,” according to the State Department. “Measures will continue until Colombia meets its obligations to accept the return of its own citizens. America will not back down when it comes to defending its national security interests.”
Petro said earlier on Sunday that he turned down the deportation flights because they were being flown by military planes, treating refugees like criminals.
Petro said on social media, “The United States must establish a protocol for the dignified treatment of migrants before we receive them.” He went on to say that if deportation flights were carried out on civilian aircraft, he would approve them.
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The Colombian migrants who were supposed to be deported on Sunday aboard these planes have returned to the United States and will be held by DHS until a new agreement is made, according to a U.S. official.
According to two U.S. sources, two Department of Defense aircraft carrying migrant deportees are scheduled to touch down in Colombia on Sunday after leaving the San Diego region close to the southern border. Overnight, however, those intentions were abandoned.
According to one of the U.S. officials, each military aircraft would deport about 80 Colombian migrants.
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