BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia’s President, Gustavo Petro, has urged his fellow citizens who are working in the United States without legal status to leave their jobs and return home promptly. In a message posted on the X platform, President Petro emphasized the importance of the working class in generating wealth and called for the creation of social wealth within Colombia.
The leftist leader announced that the government would offer loans to those individuals who choose to accept his invitation to come back to Colombia and participate in programs aimed at starting their own businesses. President Petro’s call for repatriation comes in the aftermath of a heated dispute over immigration with U.S. President Donald Trump, which nearly led to a trade war and strained diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Colombia.
President Petro accused the Trump administration of mistreating undocumented migrants by physically restraining them and deporting them on military flights back to Latin America, sparking outrage and condemnation on social media. The tensions escalated when President Petro denied permission for two deportation flights to land in Colombia, prompting a strong reaction from President Trump.
After intense negotiations, a temporary truce was established between the two countries, although concerns were raised by investors regarding the impact of the dispute on Colombia’s export economy, particularly its reliance on trade with the United States. Notably, Colombia has accepted a significant number of deportation flights from the U.S., ranking fifth behind countries like Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and El Salvador, according to data from Witness at the Border, an organization that monitors flight information.
In 2024 alone, Colombia welcomed 124 deportation flights from the United States, reflecting the complex dynamics at play in the realm of international migration and diplomatic relations. The situation remains fluid, and the next steps in this unfolding saga are uncertain.
