In a dramatic turn of events on Sunday, President Donald Trump announced an immediate round of punitive tariffs on Colombian imports, together with sweeping visa restrictions for high-level officials, in response to Bogotá’s refusal to accept U.S. deportation flights. The escalation comes after Colombian President Gustavo Petro declared his country would block inbound flights carrying deported migrants unless they received “humane treatment,” a move that has triggered one of the most serious U.S.-Colombia rifts in recent years.
Posting on his preferred social media platform, President Trump stated the new tariffs would start at 25 percent on all products originating in Colombia and could climb to 50 percent as early as next week. He also declared an outright travel ban on top Colombian government leaders and threatened additional sanctions under emergency presidential authority if the stand-off persists. “Petro’s decision endangers American security and public safety,” Trump said, highlighting that he had promised robust immigration enforcement upon winning his second term. The White House underscored that the president’s actions are part of a broader effort to crack down on what Trump sees as negligent attitudes toward illegal migration and narcotics trafficking across the hemisphere.
Despite intense criticism from both domestic and international observers, the president indicated that his administration’s measures against Colombia serve as a warning shot to other nations considering non-cooperation on immigration. Last week, President Trump reiterated his campaign pledge to ramp up deportations, citing millions of undocumented individuals he believes are fueling crime rates in the United States. “We will not stand by while countries fail to uphold their legal obligations,” Trump asserted. “This is just the beginning of decisive action to protect the American people.”
