Washington — President Trump on Sunday vowed swift and punishing retaliation after the Colombian authorities over the weekend blocked the arrival of deportation flights from the U.S., objecting to the Trump administration’s efforts to make use of military planes to deport migrants.
Mr. Trump posted on social media on Sunday that his administration will put in place a number of actions in opposition to Colombia, together with a 25% tariff — that he stated will likely be raised to 50% after one week — on all items coming into the U.S. from Colombia.
He additionally introduced a journey ban and “speedy visa revocation” for Colombian authorities officers and “their allies,” visa sanctions on Colombian authorities and their kinfolk and enhanced customs inspections on vacationers and cargo from Colombia.
“These measures are just the start,” Mr. Trump wrote on his social media platform Fact Social. “We won’t permit the Colombian Authorities to violate its authorized obligations with regard to the acceptance and return of the Criminals they compelled into the US!”
A senior administration official stated Mr. Trump’s actions amounted to “a transparent message” to nations that they “have an obligation to just accept repatriation flights.”
Colombian President Gustavo Petro in response posted on social media stated to Mr. Trump “Your blockade does not scare me,” and stated he would reply to the raised tariffs in form. In reference to the journey ban, Petro stated, “I do not actually like touring to the U.S., it’s kind of boring.”
Petro additionally predicted the U.S. may “attempt to perform a coup along with your financial power and your conceitedness, like they did with Allende. … Overthrow me, President, and the Americas and humanity will reply,” Petro wrote.
In a press release, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated it was Colombia’s duty to take again residents who’re illegally within the U.S. “in a critical and expeditious method.”
“Colombian President Petro had licensed flights and offered all wanted authorizations after which canceled his authorization when the planes have been within the air,” Rubio stated. “As demonstrated by at the moment’s actions, we’re unwavering in our dedication to finish unlawful immigration and bolster America’s border safety.”
Later Sunday, the State Division confirmed Rubio had “ordered a suspension of visa issuance on the U.S. Embassy Bogota consular part.”
“Secretary Rubio is now authorizing journey sanctions on people and their households, who have been answerable for the interference of U.S. repatriation flight operations,” the State Division stated. “Measures will proceed till Colombia meets its obligations to just accept the return of its personal residents. America won’t again down relating to defending its nationwide safety pursuits.”
Earlier on Sunday, Petro said he rejected the deportation flights as a result of the deportees have been being transported in navy plane, arguing such a transfer handled migrants as criminals.
Rebecca Blackwell / AP
“The US should set up a protocol for the dignified remedy of migrants earlier than we obtain them,” Petro wrote on social media. He added that he would settle for deportation flights, so long as they have been performed on civilian planes.
A U.S. official informed CBS that the Colombian migrants who have been scheduled to be deported on Sunday on these planes are again within the U.S. and can stay in DHS custody till a brand new settlement is reached.
Two U.S. officers informed CBS Information there have been two Division of Protection planes with migrant deportees anticipated to land in Colombia on Sunday, after departing the San Diego space close to the southern border. However these plans have been scrapped in a single day.
One of many U.S. officers stated the plan was to deport roughly 80 Colombian migrants on every navy airplane.
Colombia’s authorities has supplied using its presidential airplane to assist facilitate the return of the migrants, however a senior Trump administration official stated that may not be sufficient to stave off Mr. Trump’s proposed tariffs and sactions.
Colombia’s choice to dam the U.S. deportation flights over the weekend is an early diplomatic setback for the Trump administration because it lays the muse for its promised mass deportation marketing campaign and crackdown on unlawful immigration.
As a part of that crackdown, President Trump has moved to vastly improve the function the U.S. navy performs in immigration enforcement, declaring a nationwide emergency to deploy a further 1,500 Military troopers and Marines to the southern border. The troops have been assigned to erect border obstacles and assist Customs and Border Safety in an operational capability. Lengthy-standing authorized limits bar using troopers for the civil enforcement of legal guidelines, together with U.S. immigration regulation.
Earlier within the week, the administration used navy plane to deport Guatemalan migrants who had crossed the southern border illegally again to Guatemala, publicizing the transfer as the beginning of their mass deportation effort.
contributed to this report.
