Trump announces slew of sanctions on Colombia after migrant flights prevented from landing

26 January 2025, 18:54 | Updated: 27 January 2025, 00:00

President Trump has announced he will impose tariffs on Colombia after the country's president refused to allow repatriation flights carrying so-called illegal criminals to land.

It comes after Colombia's President Gustavo Petro announced he would not allow US deportation flights to land in the country.

In response, President Trump announced a slew of economic measures against Colombia, including a 25% tarrif on all Colombian goods, which will be raised to 50% next week.

Taking to Truth Social, he wrote: "I was just informed that two repatriation flights from the United States, with a large number of Illegal Criminals, were not allowed to land in Colombia.

"This order was given by Colombia's Socialist President Gustavo Petro, who is already very unpopular amongst his people.

"Petro's denial of these flights has jeopardized the National Security and Public Safety of the United States, so l have directed my Administration to immediately take the following urgent and decisive retaliatory measures.

"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!"

The measures include:

• Emergency 25% tariffs on all goods coming into the United States. In one week, the 25% tariffs will be raised to 50%.
• A Travel Ban and immediate Visa Revocations on the Colombian Government Officials, and all Allies and Supporters.
• Visa Sanctions on all Party Members, Family Members, and Supporters of the Colombian Government.
• Enhanced Customs and Border Protection Inspections of all Colombian Nationals and Cargo on national security grounds.
• IEEPA Treasury, Banking and Financial Sanctions to be fully imposed.

Earlier today, Colombia's leftist leader took to X to slam Trump's treatment of migrants.

“A migrant is not a criminal and must be treated with the dignity that every human being deserves," he wrote.

"That is why I ordered the return of US military planes carrying Colombian migrants.

“I cannot force migrants to remain in a country that does not want them. But if that country returns them, it must be with dignity and respect – for both them and our nation. In civilian planes, and without treating them like criminals, we will welcome our compatriots. Colombia deserves respect.

"The US must establish a protocol for the dignified treatment of migrants before we accept their return.”