Trump's deportation plans hit roadblocks in Colombia, Mexico
Donald Trump's plan for mass deportations of migrants from the United States is encountering its first obstacles. Colombia is the latest country to announce it will not accept planes with deportees. Earlier, Mexico refused to allow a military aircraft to land on its territory.
The President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, announced on Sunday that he had decided to block deportation flights from the United States. "The U.S. cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals," the politician declared. Thus, Donald Trump's administration faces significant obstacles in implementing its migration plan. Previously, Mexico refused a military aircraft carrying illegal migrants.
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"A migrant is not a criminal and should be treated with the dignity a human being deserves. We will receive our nationals in civilian airplanes without treating them as criminals. Colombia must be respected," Petro later explained on platform X.
The President of Colombia emphasized that migrants cannot be compelled to remain in a country where they are unwelcome. However, if deportation occurs, it should be handled with dignity and respect for both the individuals and Colombia. This includes using civilian aircraft and refraining from treating deportees as criminals. Under such conditions, Colombia will accept its citizens, affirming the nation’s self-respect.
CNN journalists pointed out that Donald Trump's new administration will have to overcome the same obstacles as its predecessors. The President of the United States, along with his closest collaborators, will need to convince other countries to take back their citizens. In the past, Washington has faced this challenge, especially with countries with which the USA does not have the best relations, such as Venezuela.
"The United States must establish a protocol for the dignified treatment of migrants before we accept them," wrote the President of Colombia in another post on platform X.
As CNN noted, Colombian authorities have so far authorized deportation flights from the United States and accepted back their citizens. Time will tell whether the recent decisions by President Gustavo Petro signal a change in policy or if the authorities in Bogotá aim to pressure the Trump administration into better treatment of migrants.
