He said the measures were necessary because Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s decision “jeopardized” U.S. national security.
“These steps are just the beginning,” Mr. Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
“We will not allow the Colombian government to violate its legal obligations regarding the acceptance and return of criminals they forced into the United States.”
– Donald Trump, President of the United States
Earlier Sunday, Petro said his government would not accept flights carrying migrants deported from the United States until the Trump administration creates a protocol that treats them with “dignity.” Mr. Petro made the announcement in two X-rated posts, one of which included a news video showing migrants allegedly deported to Brazil walking on tarmac with restraints on their hands and feet.
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“A migrant is not a criminal and must be treated with the dignity that a human being deserves,” said Mr. Petro. “That’s why I sent away the American military planes that were transporting Colombian migrants.”
The U.S. government did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press regarding the planes and protocols used for deportations to Colombia.
Mr Petro added that his country would welcome Colombians on “civilian planes” and “without treating them like criminals”.
As part of a series of actions to deliver on U.S. President Donald Trump’s campaign promises to crack down on illegal immigration, his government is using active-duty military personnel to help secure the border and carry out deportations .
Two Air Force C-17 cargo planes carrying migrants deported from the United States landed early Friday in Guatemala. On the same day, Honduras received two deportation flights carrying a total of 193 people.
