Colombian President Gustavo Petro has announced he will deny entry to American planes carrying deported Colombian migrants, citing concerns over their treatment as criminals by the U.S. government. This decision comes amidst increased deportation efforts under the Trump administration, which began rounding up and deporting criminal migrants after taking office.
Gustavo Petro took to Twitter on Sunday, stating, “The US cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals… The United States must establish a protocol for the dignified treatment of migrants before we receive them.” However, it remains unclear how many Colombians are currently in U.S. custody and awaiting deportation.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have been conducting daily raids across various cities since Trump’s inauguration, targeting immigrants who committed subsequent crimes after entering the U.S. illegally. On Saturday alone, 421 people were detained for removal, with targeted cities including Boston, New York, Newark, and San Francisco.
In response to these deportation efforts, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that “deportation flights have begun.” Two military aircraft carrying 160 people were sent to Guatemala on Thursday, followed by additional flights to Guatemala and Mexico on Friday. Initial reports suggested Mexico refused to accept these flights due to an administrative issue.
Estimates suggest there are between 11 million and 35 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S. During his campaign, Trump promised to reduce this number through “the largest deportation operation in American history.” While all illegal immigrants commit a crime by entering the country unlawfully, both Trump and his border czar, Tom Homan, have stated that initial efforts will focus on those with criminal records acquired after entering the U.S.