With the intensification of deportation policies in President Donald Trump’s administration, two flights from California, carried out on US military C-17 aircraft and carrying about 80 Colombian migrants each, were supposed to land in Bogotá on the morning of January 26, according to NBC News.

President Petro initially announced a warm welcome of returning deportees, inviting Colombians to greet them “with flags and flowers,” via X/Twitter. However, less than an hour later the tweet was deleted, and another one was sent, emphasizing the need for the US government to implement “dignified treatment protocols” for Colombian nationals before they would be accepted back. “The United States cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals. I deauthorize the entry of US planes with Colombian migrants into our territory,” said Petro.

The reversal triggered a quick reaction from the US government. According to journalist Juan Camilo Merlano of popular Colombian news program Noticias Caracol, sources close to the US administration revealed plans for retaliatory measures. The immediate step was the suspension of visa services in Colombia.

“In response to President Petro’s refusal to accept two deportation flights, which he had previously approved at the highest instances of government, the US Embassy in Colombia will close its visa section starting January 27. Additional retaliatory measures will follow,” the journalist tweeted.

While no official confirmation has been issued by the US State Department, the visa suspension marks a significant blow to bilateral relations.

The deportations carried out by the United States have already sparked controversy with several Latin American leaders, as Brazil has also denounced that the US authorities have used handcuffs against Brazilian citizens on these flights, something that is not established within the conditions of a repatriation flight.

New Colombian Foreign Minister, Laura Sarabia, defended President Petro’s decision, citing concerns about the treatment of Colombian deportees. Sarabia stated that the government remains open to dialogue with the United States but emphasized the need for humane and respectful deportation protocols.

“The Colombian government reaffirms its commitment to ensuring a dignified return for our nationals. We seek respectful, humane treatment and adequate conditions, including civil and dignified transportation. We are open to dialogue with the US to verify and strengthen deportation protocols,” Sarabia stated.

Headline photo: President Gustavo Petro (Photo: Presidencia de la República)

In a rising number of cases, legitimate Colombian visitors to Mexico have allegedly been harassed and mistreated by Mexican authorities, or otherwise been denied entry, losing prepaid vacation packages and other arrangements such as entry to events or meetings.

“We have agreed on an electronic pre-check system where any Colombian tourist who buys a ticket to Mexico will be subject to that electronic pre-check, in such a way that if there is any reason for the immigration authorities to not admit him, they will be notified here in Colombia, before getting on the plane, in such a way that we prevent what has happened during the last year and a half from happening and that is that when they arrive in Mexico they are not admitted, they lose their hotel package, their tickets and all the effort they had made several families for spending a few days of tourism in Mexico,” said Colombia’s Vice President and Chancellor Marta Lucia Ramirez.

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Last year, of the 1.5 million visits by Colombians to México, 6,000 were turned away. A number far higher than for example, the 900 that were rejected from Spain. Now, if a Colombian is to be denied admission to México, he or she will receive notice before boarding the flight.

The negotiations also stave off for now Mexico reimposing visa requirements on Colombians, a measure the country has already taken for visitors arriving from Ecuador, Brazil and Bolivia. Mexico has been under pressure from neighboring US due to the large number of migrants using Mexico as a “trampoline” for entering the US illegally.

Illegal Colombian Migration Surging

Colombia has now overtaken countries such as Haiti, Venezuela and El Salvador to become the fifth highest source of non-Mexican migration through the US southern boarder with Mexico. According to the US Customs & Border Patrol service, a record 9,600 Colombians were taken into custody in February alone, not counting those that successfully evaded the border authorities. 23,985 Colombians were processed at the border, up 287% from the previous fiscal year.

The US has pressed Mexico to take a stricter stance towards migrants who clearly intend to simply pass-through México as opposed to legitimate visitors with tourism, family or business plans.

“During the month of March, Migration Colombia has received nearly 600 Colombian citizens, all of legal age, returned from the United States on 6 flights, which have been paid for by the American authorities, said Colombia’s immigration authority, Migration Colombia in a written statement. “From Migration Colombia we call on our compatriots not to risk their lives in this type of journey and we will continue working with all the migratory authorities of the region, in order to maintain an orderly and safe migration, which allows protecting people.”

Above photo: A week ago, Vice President Chancellor Ramírez led the negotiations with the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, for Latin America and the Caribbean of Mexico, Maximiliano Reyes Zúñiga, who made a visit to Bogotá, where the previous procedure was finalized. (Courtesy Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)