Trump Imposes Tariffs and Visa Sanctions on Colombia Over Deportation Flight Refusal

U.S. President Donald Trump announced a series of retaliatory measures against Colombia on Sunday, January 26th, after its government rejected two repatriation flights carrying migrants deported from the United States.

In a statement, Trump said the Colombian government’s refusal to accept the flights jeopardized U.S. national security. He emphasized that the action violated legal obligations, declaring, “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.”

The measures, which Trump described as only the beginning, include emergency tariffs of 25% on all goods entering the United States, set to increase to 50% within a week. Notably, the U.S. imports a large percentage of its crude oil, coffee, tropical fruits, and flowers from Colombia. Tariffs on these imports will lead to higher prices for the goods mentioned above and a lower supply. 

Trump also stated that his administration has plans to implement travel bans, revoke visas for Colombian government officials, and impose financial sanctions on individuals associated with the Colombian government. Other actions include enhanced Customs and Border Protection inspections of all Colombian nationals and cargo and the full imposition of IEEPA Treasury, banking, and financial sanctions.

The decision to reject the deportation flights came after Colombian President Gustavo Petro voiced concerns about the treatment of migrants. Petro stated that his government would not accept U.S. deportation flights until a protocol was in place to ensure the migrants were treated with dignity and respect. 

“A migrant is not a criminal and must be treated with the dignity that a human being deserves,” Petro wrote in a post on X. He clarified that his country would only accept Colombians aboard civilian flights rather than military planes used by the U.S.

This dispute highlights ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Colombia over deportation policies. As part of its crackdown on illegal immigration, the Trump administration has utilized active-duty military personnel to secure the U.S. border and oversee deportations.