President Donald Trump declared a swift win after the Colombian authorities announced they would begin accepting repatriated migrants flown into the country on U.S. military jets as part of the Trump administration’s extensive deportation strategy.
This apparent accord stemmed from a lengthy disagreement between the two leaders that ended with threats of reciprocal tariffs—although for the moment, both countries’ ambitions for a trade conflict seem to be put on hold.
“The Government of Colombia has complied with all of President Trump’s demands, including the unconditional acceptance of every undocumented immigrant from Colombia returned from the United States, even on U.S. military planes, without any restrictions or delays,” stated White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in a statement released late Sunday.
The White House clarified that the retaliatory 25% tariffs on Colombian imports and economic sanctions initially threatened by Trump are still “held in reserve, and not signed” should the South American country fail to uphold its side of the agreement.
Leavitt also mentioned that the United States would maintain visa sanctions imposed by the State Department and heightened inspections by Customs and Border Protection until Colombia accepted its first aircraft carrying migrants.
The announcement of a consensus emerged just hours after Colombian President Gustavo Petro expressed that he was ready to counter Trump’s tariff threats with a 25% tariff on U.S. imports.
However, the Colombian government promptly verified that they had “resolved the deadlock” with Trump in their own statement on Sunday night, following “high-level meetings” held by the nation’s foreign minister and ambassador in the U.S.
“The U.S. cannot view Colombian migrants as criminals,” Petro stated in a Sunday evening announcement amid escalating tensions, declaring that he would reject flights carrying detained migrants due to their inadequate treatment by American authorities. He also urged the U.S. to “develop a protocol for the humane treatment of migrants before we accept them.”
By Sunday night, the Colombian administration shared that they had reached an agreement “ensuring [deported Colombian migrants] satisfactory conditions as citizens entitled to rights.” They also affirmed that diplomatic channels would remain active to “uphold the rights, national interests, and dignity of our citizens.”
Earlier on Sunday as the diplomatic tensions escalated, Petro dispatched his presidential plane to “facilitate the respectful return” of Colombian nationals. Later that evening, the Colombian government confirmed the plane was ready to initiate that process the following morning.
Following the reconciliation on Sunday night, the Trump administration announced its victory, asserting that “America is once again respected” internationally.
“President Trump will persist in vigorously safeguarding our nation’s sovereignty, and he anticipates that all other countries will fully cooperate in receiving the deportations of their nationals who are unlawfully present in the United States,” Leavitt commented.
