Newly appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio halted all visa issuances at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia, on Sunday.
According to a media note from the U.S. Department of State, Rubio has immediately ordered the suspension of visa issuances after Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro refused to accept two repatriation flights from the U.S., despite previously authorizing them.
“The State Department will continue to enforce and prioritize an America First agenda,” the media note reads, “Following President Petro’s refusal to accept two repatriation flights he previously authorized, Secretary Rubio immediately ordered a suspension of visa issuance at the U.S. Embassy Bogota consular section.”
The note goes on to say that sanctions and other restrictions will also be put on those who interfered with the flights and will continue until “Colombia meets its obligations.”
“Secretary Rubio is now authorizing travel sanctions on individuals and their families, who were responsible for the interference of U.S. repatriation flight operations. Measures will continue until Colombia meets its obligations to accept the return of its own citizens,” the release reads. “America will not back down when it comes to defending its national security interests.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the visa sanctions will remain in place until the flights of undocumented Colombian migrants have been successfully returned to Colombia.
“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,” Leavitt’s announcement reads, “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.”
The Hill further reported President Donald Trump announced Sunday that President Petro refuses to allow the flights to land and threatened to impose a 25% tariff on all Colombian goods imported into the U.S. if he did not allow the flights to land.
USA Today, however, reported Monday that the Trump administration has decided to hold off on imposing the tariffs, after he further threatened to raise the tariffs to 50% on Colombia after one week if Petro continued to be uncompliant.
“These measures are just the beginning,” Trump reportedly said in a Truth Social post Sunday, “We will not allow the Colombian Government to violate its legal obligations with regard to the acceptance and return of the Criminals they forced into the United States!”
The White House said on Sunday night that Colombian President Gustavo Petro agreed to Trump’s terms.
