Trump ends tariff standoff with Colombia over deportees

Trump and Colombia agree on deportations, avoiding tariffs; ICE arrests surge as immigration crackdown begins.

President Trump announced that Colombia has agreed to accept deportees from the United States, resolving a tariff standoff between the two nations. This agreement follows Trump threatening tariffs in response to Colombia’s refusal to let U.S. military planes with migrants land in its territory.

The White House stated that the new arrangement includes Colombia’s commitment to accept all illegal aliens returned from the U.S. The threat of tariffs has now been postponed, although they will be reinstated if Colombia fails to honour the agreement.

Recent deportation efforts have intensified, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducting over 900 arrests on a single day. This increase highlights the administration’s focus on illegal immigration as a key priority for Trump’s second term.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro initially resisted the arrival of U.S. planes carrying migrants, asserting that the U.S. cannot treat Colombian nationals as criminals. He subsequently stated that his government would continue to accept deportees, albeit under dignified conditions.

As discussions continue, both nations are navigating the implications of trade and diplomatic relations. The U.S. heavily imports Colombian goods, while Colombia relies significantly on U.S. markets for its exports. The situation underscores broader tensions between the Trump administration and leftist governments in Latin America regarding immigration policies and economic relations.