President Donald Trump announced tough measures against Colombia on Sunday after Colombian President Gustavo Petro refused to allow deportation flights from the United States to land in his country.
Petro made it clear earlier today that his government would block these flights unless the U.S. provided guarantees that migrants would be treated with dignity. This decision sparked a heated response from Trump, just days into his second term as president.
On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump declared that the U.S. would impose an emergency 25% tariff (a type of tax) on all goods coming from Colombia. He warned that the tariff would increase to 50% within a week if the situation wasn’t resolved.
Trump also announced travel restrictions for Colombian government officials, effectively banning them from entering the U.S. He used emergency presidential powers to implement these sanctions.
In his post, Trump explained his reasoning: “Petro’s refusal to allow deportation flights threatens the national security and safety of the United States. I’ve ordered my administration to act quickly and decisively.”
This move aligns with Trump’s broader efforts to crack down on illegal immigration. Since returning to office, he has vowed to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. Trump has also threatened to target other major U.S. trading partners, such as Mexico and Canada, accusing them of not doing enough to combat illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
“These steps are just the beginning,” Trump wrote. “We will not let the Colombian government violate its responsibilities when it comes to accepting their criminals back.”
