The White House has claimed victory over Colombia into accepting flights of deported migrants from the US, hours after President Donald Trump threatened steep tariffs on imports and other sanctions. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the “Government of Colombia 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 US military aircraft, without limitation or delay.”.
Ms Leavitt said the tariff orders - which would have put in place 25% tariffs on all Colombian incoming goods, and then raised to 50% in one week - will be “held in reserve, and not signed.”. She said Mr Trump would maintain visa restrictions on Colombian officials and enhanced customs inspections of goods from the country “until the first planeload of Colombian deportees is successfully returned.”.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who rejected two US military aircraft carrying migrants after accusing Mr Trump of not treating immigrants with dignity during deportation, reposted the White House statement on X. “We have overcome the impasse with the United States government,” said Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo. “We will continue to receive Colombians who return as deportees, guaranteeing them decent conditions as citizens subject to rights.”.
He said the country’s presidential aircraft is available to facilitate the return of migrants. Colombia’s decision comes hours after Mr Trump threatened to order upped tariffs, visa restrictions and other retaliatory measures to be taken against Colombia after its government rejected two US military flights carrying migrants.
