The Trump administration announced plans to close the U.S. Embassy in Colombia after President Gustavo Petro refused to accept previously approved deportation flights.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The U.S. Embassy in Colombia is set to close its visa section on Monday, marking a dramatic escalation in diplomatic tensions after Colombian President Gustavo Petro reversed his commitment to accept deportation flights from the United States.
The closure comes in response to Petro’s decision to block two flights carrying 160 deportable Colombian migrants, a move that directly contradicted an earlier agreement with the Trump administration. “The U.S. cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals,” Petro declared on Sunday in an X post. “I deny the entry of American planes carrying Colombian migrants into our territory.”
Los EEUU no pueden tratar como delincuentes a los migrantes Colombianos.
Desautorizo la entrada de aviones norteamericanos con migrantes colombianos a nuestro territorio.
EEUU debe establecer un protocolo de tratamiento digno a los migrantes antes que los recibamos nosotros.
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) January 26, 2025
A U.S. official confirmed the embassy’s pending closure, stating, “In response to President Petro’s refusal to accept two flights of Colombian deportees, which President Petro had authorized and were previously approved at the highest levels of government, U.S. Embassy Colombia is closing the visa section tomorrow. Additional retaliatory measures will be rolled out soon,” the official told Breitbart News.
Petro, a former Marxist revolutionary who once served in the M-19 guerrilla group, further insisted that the United States must establish protocols for ensuring the dignified treatment of deportees before his administration would reconsider its stance. The controversial move has drawn sharp criticism, particularly given Petro’s long-standing association with leftist ideologies. His previous role as an adviser to the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, who presided over an economic collapse, has also been highlighted by opponents of his administration.
The deportation flights were initially part of an agreement between the Trump administration and the Colombian government to address illegal immigration and repatriate individuals deemed ineligible for asylum. However, Petro’s reversal has cast doubt on the future of U.S.-Colombia cooperation on migration issues.
This latest development adds to mounting tensions between the two nations, as the Trump administration considers further retaliatory measures to reinforce its immigration policies. “The United States must uphold its commitment to border security and enforce the agreements made with our partners,” the U.S. official stated.
The unfolding diplomatic dispute underscores the challenges faced by the Trump administration in navigating complex international relationships while maintaining its strict immigration enforcement agenda. As Petro’s refusal reverberates through diplomatic channels, the impact on U.S.-Colombia relations remains uncertain.
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