President Trump hits Colombia with tariffs in feud over military deportation flights

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deporting Colombian migrants.

The conflict quickly escalated into a trade battle, with Petro responding by placing tariffs on US products entering his country.

Petro accused the Trump administration of treating Colombian migrants "like criminals," citing photographs of handcuffed detainees. He stated that his country won't accept deportation flights from the U.S. unless migrants are treated with the dignity that a human being deserves.

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After discovering two repatriation flights weren't allowed to land in Colombia, Trump said he would immediately impose a 25% tariff on all goods coming into the U.S. from the South American country and increase it to 50% within one week.

The president announced the immediate revocation of entry visas and a travel ban to the U.S. for Colombian government officials and their friends and supporters. Trump also said he would impose financial penalties on Colombia and increase inspections of all Colombian citizens and cargo at the border for national security reasons. “These measures are just the beginning,” Trump stated in a post on Truth Social. “We will not let the Colombian Government escape its responsibility to accept and return the criminals they forced into the United States.”

to raise Colombian tariffs on U.S. goods by 25%.

This action by Trump is happening as he tries to follow through on his pledge to carry out large-scale deportations of undocumented immigrants in the US. During his first week in office, Trump declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border and instructed U.S. troops to assist with the deportations. As a result, people being deported are flying back to their home countries with their hands cuffed.

On that issue that sparked Trump's actions, the statement was made: "I deny the entry of American planes carrying Colombian migrants into our territory. The United States must establish a protocol for the dignified treatment of migrants before we receive them."

he employs tariffs as a tool to advance his national goals in his dealings with countries such as China.

Several Latin American countries have protested against Trump's aggressive deportation policies.

The United States has also condemned the treatment of deportees who have been returned. And last week, Mexico refused to accept a deportation flight for the first time in decades.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio issued a statement on Sunday Justifying U.S. deportation policy and urging cooperation from Latin American countries.

"President Trump has made it clear that during his administration, the United States will no longer be misled or exploited. Each country is required to promptly and seriously take back its citizens who are living in the US without legal permission," Rubio said.

Colombian President Petro had approved flights and granted all the necessary permissions, and then cancelled his authorization when the planes were already airborne," Rubio added. "As shown by today's actions, we remain firmly committed to stopping illegal immigration and strengthening the security of America's borders.

Contributing: Lauren Villagran

Reach Joey Garrison @joeygarrison

President Trump hits Colombia with tariffs in feud over military deportation flights