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The President of Colombia has called on undocumented Colombians living in the United States to return home.
Some shit you should know before you read: Over the weekend, a diplomatic standoff erupted between the US and Colombia after President Gustavo Petro refused to allow US military planes carrying deported Colombians to land. Petro criticized the Trump administration’s handling of deportations, arguing that they were being mistreated. In response, President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Colombian exports and restrict US visas for Colombian officials and their families, escalating tensions between the two nations. Facing mounting pressure from investors concerned about the economic impact of potential trade sanctions, Petro abruptly reversed his stance and agreed to accept all deported Colombians, including those arriving on US military flights, just as Trump was preparing to enforce the tariffs.

What’s going on now: In an announcement, President Petro called on undocumented Colombians living in the United States to leave their jobs and return home. He said, “I ask undocumented Colombians in the U.S. to immediately leave their jobs in that country and return to Colombia as soon as possible.” Petro argued that economic growth depends on labor within the country, adding, “Let’s build social wealth in Colombia.”
To encourage Colombians to return home, Petro promised government-backed support, including loans for those who enroll in economic programs aimed at creating entrepreneurship and reintegration. He said, “The Department of Social Prosperity, DPS, will seek to provide productive loans to returnees who enroll in its programs.”

This all comes as President Petro reportedly told Univision that he would refuse to accept deportation flights if Colombian migrants arrived in the country in handcuffs. Petro has been highly critical of the Trump administration’s handling of deportations, arguing that migrants should be treated with dignity and respect. President Trump has not responded to Petro’s comments.
More to come