“Deportation flights have begun” – White House says
The Government of Colombia has agreed to cooperate with the U.S.’s deportation flight program and accept “all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on U.S. military aircraft, without limitation or delay” following threats from President Trump earlier Sunday.
In exchange for their cooperation, President Trump has agreed to reserve tariffs and financial sanctions against Colombia, says White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Visa sanctions and immigration restrictions, including enhanced inspections of Colombian Nationals and their goods, “will remain in effect until the first planeload of Colombian deportees is successfully returned.”
The Trump Administration began flying illegals out of the country on military aircraft and landing them in South America last week.
The military is using C-17 cargo planes to transport illegals from Tucson and Fort Bliss, Texas. Over 500 illegals, including gang members, had already been deported by Friday.
However, as The Gateway Pundit reported on Sunday, Colombian President Gustavo Petro tried to act tough on Saturday night by blocking two U.S. military deportation flights, sparking a fiery response from the Trump administration.
President Trump, in a characteristic show of force, didn’t just criticize Petro’s actions but retaliated heavily by implementing severe economic and travel sanctions against Colombia.
The sanctions included an emergency imposition of a 25% tariff on all Colombian goods, a figure that Trump threatened to double within a week.
As noted by conservative commentator Addison Smith, this would have been devastating for Colombia, as “the U.S. is Colombia’s largest trading partner with over 30% of their exports— worth $14B/yr.”
This is a big deal.
The U.S. is Colombia’s largest trading partner with over 30% of their exports— worth $14B/yr
25% (and soon, 50%) tariffs across the board isn’t just a trade war for Colombia, it’s a financial catastrophe.
Good luck, Petro! https://t.co/tOL54FRw7N
— Addison Smith (@AddisonSmithTV) January 26, 2025
Petro ultimately caved and announced the dispatch of his presidential plane to facilitate the return of its citizens, framing it as a commitment to guarantee “dignified conditions” for deportees. Trump then teased the Colombian President with an epic victory post on Truth Social, telling Petro to “FAFO” or “F*ck around and find out,” a warning not to mess with the United States again.
Perto later issued a bizarre and outrageous statement, race-baiting and threatening to impose his own tariffs on American goods Sunday evening.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced in a statement late Sunday that an agreement has been reached between the two leaders.
Leavitt released the following 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.”
The Government of Colombia has agreed to all of President Trump’s terms pic.twitter.com/mQocusSGOC
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) January 27, 2025
Notably, Petro reposted his own feed:
This came after he reposted America-hating Socialist Rep. Alexandria Occasio Cortez (D-NY) attacking Trump and lying about the effect of tariffs on Americans earlier Sunday.
The post VICTORY: Colombia Agrees to “All of President Trump’s Terms” For Deportation Flights on Military Planes to Avoid Tariffs and Sanctions — Some Restrictions Still in Place Pending First Successful Immigrant Delivery appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
