Colombia Refuses US Military Aircraft with Deported Migrants

bogota - Colombian President Petro denies entry to US military planes carrying deported Colombian migrants, leading to sanctions from the US.

Colombia Refuses US Military Aircraft with Deported Migrants

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has announced the denial of entry to US military planes carrying deported Colombian migrants, emphasizing the dignity of migrants. In response, the US plans to impose sanctions and trade tariffs on Colombia, as reported by Reuters.

President Petro stated, 'A migrant is not a criminal and should be treated with the dignity every human deserves. That's why I have sent back American military planes carrying Colombian migrants,' in his announcement.

Colombia is willing to accept its nationals only if they are returned on civilian flights, 'without treating them as criminals,' Petro added. The exact number of Colombians the US intended to deport remains unclear.

US President Donald Trump had pledged 'mass deportations' during his campaign. Shortly after taking office, he initiated the arrest of hundreds of individuals unlawfully present on US soil, with deportation flights already conducted to Guatemala and Brazil.

However, the deportation of 88 migrants to the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte sparked controversy. The Brazilian government reported that upon a layover in Manaus on Friday, the migrants were subjected to a 'humiliating treatment.' They were chained by hands and feet in a military plane with malfunctioning air conditioning, deprived of water and access to toilets, according to Brazilian media.