Two Colombian air force planes have landed in Bogotá, returning deported migrants from the United States in a significant diplomatic resolution. The incident kicked off after Colombian President Gustavo Petro barred US military flights from landing, insisting migrants were unjustly treated like criminals. This led to heightened tensions between the two nations, with Donald Trump threatening to impose steep tariffs on Colombian goods as a form of retaliation.
Petro's administration reached an agreement, allowing Colombian air force jets to carry out the repatriation. The president emphasized the importance of treating deportees "with dignity" and shared images of them disembarking without handcuffs, reinforcing their status as "free and dignified" Colombians.
Historically, Colombia has accepted US deportation flights, but the president expressed strong disapproval of the treatment observed in prior flights, particularly a recent incident involving restrained Brazilian deportees. In response to Petro's refusal to allow US military landings, Trump declared a 25% tariff on Colombian imports, which would escalate without compliance from Colombia.
As part of the fallout, US officials suspended hundreds of visa appointments for Colombians, linking the cancellations to Petro's stance on deportations. The US State Department indicated that restrictions would remain until the migrants returned safely to Colombia.
Despite the resolution, details of the agreement between the two governments remain undisclosed. Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo reported that the impasse was resolved, affirming the commitment to ensure a dignified experience for deported citizens.
It remains uncertain if future repatriation flights will continue under the Colombian air force's arrangement or if the recent flights were a one-off solution. As regional leaders prepare to meet in Honduras to discuss migration policies, President Petro has confirmed his participation in the discussions.
