U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem arrived in Colombia on Thursday as part of her visit to three Latin American countries, focusing on discussions about immigration, crime, and deportation.
Her trip comes amid strained relations between the Trump administration and the Colombian government, traditionally a strong U.S. ally in the region. Tensions escalated earlier this year when Colombia expressed discontent over receiving flights of deported immigrants from the United States.
Noem had a meeting with Colombia’s foreign minister on Thursday morning and is scheduled to engage further with the nation’s leftist leadership and law enforcement officials to address strategies for combating organized crime.
After the meeting, Noem described her conversation with Colombian Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia as both “frank and candid,” covering topics like deportations, crime, and immigration.
Noem reiterated the U.S.’s commitment to collaborating closely with Colombian counterparts to improve border security and uphold criminal law enforcement.
Sarabia, on the other hand, stressed that it is crucial to ensure the “human rights and dignity of migrants are respected.” The two also signed an agreement aimed at improving the exchange of biometric data for law enforcement purposes.
The interaction takes place in the shadow of differing opinions held by Colombian President Gustavo Petro and U.S. President Donald Trump on vital issues such as crime-fighting tactics and the United States’ involvement in Latin American affairs.
This visit stands in contrast to Noem’s prior stop in El Salvador on Wednesday, where she held talks with President Nayib Bukele. Bukele, who has gained favor among U.S. right-wing circles for his aggressive crackdown on gangs, discussed ongoing crime prevention efforts.
During the El Salvador visit, Noem toured a large prison complex housing numerous Venezuelans deported by the Trump administration. These individuals are accused of being part of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, although the basis for these allegations remains contentious and is currently being legally contested.
Noem’s tour will continue on Friday in Mexico, where she is set to meet with President Claudia Sheinbaum. Sheinbaum has been negotiating with the Trump administration to mitigate the impact of proposed tariffs. However, despite these efforts, the Trump administration recently declared a 25% tariff on auto imports from Mexico.