BOGOTÁ, Colombia — The U.S. Embassy in Colombia canceled visa appointments on Monday due to a conflict between former President Donald Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro regarding deportation flights. This disagreement nearly escalated into a significant trade dispute between the two nations.
Colombians visited the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá only to find letters from local staff indicating their appointments had been called off. The notice cited the Colombian government’s refusal to accept the repatriation flights for its nationals during the recent weekend.
In response to this situation, Colombia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry announced on Monday that they would be dispatching a Colombian Air Force aircraft to San Diego to retrieve a group of Colombians who had been stranded on a deportation flight that was denied entry over the weekend.
The events highlighted in Washington serve as a warning to other countries about the repercussions of opposing Trump’s immigration policies. This episode displayed the tension between the Biden administration and a left-leaning leader in a nation that has historically collaborated with the U.S. in the fight against drug trafficking.
Tammy Bruce, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, underscored on Monday that the Trump administration plans to enforce actions against any nation that fails to uphold its commitments, including the acceptance of deportees. “This situation illustrates that Colombia should be aware of the consequences of not adhering to agreements,” she stated during her interview on Fox News. “Ultimately, they acknowledged their error and corrected their stance.”
Colombians, like most foreign nationals, must obtain a visa to enter the United States for purposes such as tourism or business. However, securing a visa appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá can take up to two years. This office has also been processing visa requests from Venezuela for several years, which adds to the backlog. Consequently, those who had their appointments canceled on Monday may have to endure several additional months of waiting. Many expressed their dissatisfaction with the last-minute cancellations.
Elio Camelo, a visa applicant from Cali, expressed frustration, stating, “President Petro did not adequately represent our interests.” Similar sentiments were echoed by Mauricio Manrique, who had traveled over 600 kilometers from Popayán for his appointment, voicing concern about the uncertainty surrounding future proceedings following the cancellation.
The strain in U.S.-Colombia relations intensified when President Petro posted a message on X early Sunday morning, declaring his refusal to permit two U.S. Air Force aircraft carrying Colombian deportees to land. He also shared a video depicting deportees arriving in Brazil, allegedly with shackles, asserting that Colombia would only accept deportation flights if the U.S. developed protocols to guarantee the “dignified treatment” of expelled individuals.
In retaliation, Trump took to Truth Social, suggesting a 25% emergency tariff on Colombian exports to the U.S., combined with a revocation of U.S. visas for Colombian government officials, and heightened customs inspections for goods from Colombia.
The State Department followed suit by announcing a halt to visa issuance for Colombian citizens until deportation flights were reinstated. However, by Sunday night, following negotiations, tensions were eased when the White House confirmed that Colombia had agreed to resume deportation flights, adhering to all of Trump’s stipulations, including military transport for deportees.
In the previous year, Colombia accepted 124 deportation flights, all organized by U.S. government contractors. The White House announced that while tariffs on Colombian exports would be paused, restrictions on visas for Colombian officials and rigorous customs inspections would remain active “until the first planeload of Colombian deportees is successfully returned.”
A spokesperson from the State Department reported on Monday that there were no updates on when visa applications would be processed again at the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá. In 2022, over 1.6 million Colombians legally entered the U.S., making it the most popular destination for Colombian travelers abroad, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
