After Trump Shuts Down Colombian President, Visa Appts At U.S. Embassy In Colombia Canceled

On Monday, a number of visa appointments at the U.S. Embassy in Colombia were canceled.

The news came in the wake of President Trump’s dominant victory on Sunday, when he brusquely threatened Colombian president Gustavo Petro over his declaration that he would not permit two U.S. Air Force planes transporting Colombian deportees to land in Colombia. Trump immediately threatened to impose tariffs and other penalties, forcing Petro to back down.

The U.S. Embassy in Bogota passed out letters on Monday stating that the appointments had been canceled “due to the Colombian government’s refusal to accept repatriation flights of Colombian nationals,” the Associated Press reported, adding, “Last year, more than 1.6 million Colombians traveled to the U.S. legally, according to a report by the Ministry of Commerce. The report said the United States was the top destination for Colombians traveling abroad.”

On Sunday, Colombia announced that they were not going to accept the plane flights filled with deportees.

Trump immediately issued this statement:

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 I have directed my Administration to immediately take the following urgent and decisive retaliatory measures: 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. 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!

Within a few hours, the Colombian government reversed its decision.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued this statement:

The Government of Colombia has agreed to all of President Trump’s terms, including the unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on U.S. military aircraft, without limitation or delay. Based on this agreement, the fully drafted IEEPA tariffs and sanctions will be held in reserve, and not signed, unless Colombia fails to honor this agreement.

 The visa sanctions issued by the State Department and enhanced inspections from Customs and Border Protection will remain in effect until the first planeload of Colombian deportees is successfully returned. Today’s events make clear to the world that America is respected again. President Trump will continue to fiercely protect our nation’s sovereignty, and he expects all other nations of the world to fully cooperate in accepting the deportation of their citizens illegally present in the United States.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio added, “President Trump has made it clear that under his administration, America will no longer be lied to nor taken advantage of. It is the responsibility of each nation to take back their citizens who are illegally present in the United States in a serious and expeditious manner. 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.”