Deportation Policy: Trump Rolls Out More Sanctions As Columbia Levies Retaliatory Sanctions Against US Imports

CNN Culled Report

American President, Donald Trump has on Sunday, announced more retaliatory sanctions against Colombia after its president blocked US military deportation flights from landing, the first instance of Trump using economic pressure to force other nations to fall in line with his mass deportation plans since he took office last week.

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News gathered from CNN Monitored reports that some hours after Trump’s announcement, Colombian President Gustavo Petro said he ordered the commerce ministry to raise tariffs on US imports by 25%. “I am informed that you impose a 50% tariff on the fruits of our human labor to enter the United States, and I do the same,” Petro wrote in a long post on X aimed at Trump, before he announced the 25% tax on US goods.

Earlier in the day, Petro announced he had blocked two US military flights carrying migrants heading toward the country and called on the United States to establish better protocols in its treatment of migrants. Petro also left the door open to receiving repatriated migrants traveling on civilian planes.

Following Petro’s initial announcement, Trump criticized him on social media while announcing a slate of new sanctions and policies targeting Colombia, including “emergency 25% tariffs” on all imports from the country that will be raised to 50% in a week, a “travel ban” for Colombian citizens, and a revocation of visas for Colombian officials in the US along with “all allies and supporters.”

“These measures are just the beginning. We will not allow the Colombian Government to violate its legal obligations with regard to the acceptance and return of the Criminals they forced into the United States!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Petro who reportedly esponded dismissively to Trump’s announcement, on social media, “Trump, I don’t really like traveling to the US, it’s a bit boring.” He went on to criticize Trump’s policies and character, even suggesting the US president considers “me an inferior race and I’m not, nor is any Colombian.”

OTN News further gathered that the US Embassy in Bogota has suspended visa processing in retaliation for Colombia’s refusal to accept repatriation flights, the State Department said in a statement Sunday evening. 

It would be recalled that the CNN previously reported on the suspension of visa processing. The suspension applies to immigrant and non-immigrant visas, which typically number in the thousands each day. Secretary of State Rubio also authorized “travel sanctions on individuals and their families, who were responsible for the interference of U.S. repatriation flight operations,” the statement said.

The issuance of visa restrictions on individuals from allied countries is an extraordinary move, as it is one that is typically reserved for adversaries or individuals who have committed human rights abuses. Colombia is a Major non-NATO ally of the United States. It is unclear how many Colombian officials the US has imposed visa restrictions on.

American Citizens Services will continue as normal, a State Department official said. They stressed that the situation is fluid.

Rubio said in an earlier Sunday statement that Colombian officials had approved two military flights carrying migrants to Colombia and then revoked the authorization once they were en route.

CNN reported earlier, based on a review of documents, that Colombian officials had approved the flights.

“Colombian President Petro had authorized flights and provided all needed authorizations and then canceled his authorization when the planes were in the air. As demonstrated by today’s actions, we are unwavering in our commitment to end illegal immigration and bolster America’s border security,” Rubio said.

Petro disputed that he had given authorization, writing on X after the secretary of state’s statement, “I will never allow Colombians to be brought in handcuffs on flights. Marco, if officials from the Foreign Ministry allowed this, it would never be under my direction.”

CNN had previously reported Trump administration officials were surprised and frustrated when Petro said he was blocking US deportation flights from entering the country. Sources within the Colombian government were also caught by surprise by Petro’s post.

Although the CNN has reportedly reached out to the Colombian government for comments, Trump’s reaction to Colombia’s rejection of repatriated citizens marks the first major clash with another country over immigration issues since he began his second term.

“You can’t go out there and publicly defy us in that way,” a Trump administration official told CNN. “We’re going to make sure the world knows they can’t get away with being non serious and deceptive.”

However, Petro called on US citizens living in Colombia illegally to “regularize” their stay, without

offering specifics. “American citize