Trump sanctions Colombia for rejecting deportation flights

Trump to impose 25% tariffs on Colombia after its military aircraft refusal for deported migrants; tensions rise over immigration policy.

President Donald Trump announced on Sunday the United States would impose sanctions and tariffs on Colombia for rejecting U.S. military aircraft carrying deported migrants.

Trump stated on Truth Social that a 25% emergency tariff would be applied to all Colombian goods entering the U.S., increasing to 50% within a week.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro had stated earlier that he blocked U.S. military planes carrying deported Colombians as part of the U.S. immigration policy. Reports indicated that Mexico also refused a similar flight on Saturday.

Petro expressed via Twitter/X that migrants should be treated with dignity and respect. He shared a video of Brazilian deportees flown out of the U.S. while restrained.

The Colombian president highlighted his stance by emphasising that migrants are not criminals. He stated his government cannot force migrants to stay in an undesired country, adding that any return must be conducted respectfully.

Petro called for a protocol from the U.S. for the dignified treatment of migrants before Colombia would accept their return.

Colombia reportedly denied landing clearance for two U.S. military aircraft, each carrying around 80 migrants, after the planes had already left California.