Colombian president urges illegal immigrants in US to return home days after diplomatic spat

Colombian President Gustavo Petro is urging Colombian nationals in the U.S. illegally to return home, promising to provide loans to those who return, days after being embroiled in a diplomatic controversy with the U.S.

“I ask undocumented Colombians in the US to immediately leave their jobs in that country and return to Colombia as soon as possible,” Petro said on X.

“Wealth is produced only by working people.

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“The Department of Social Prosperity … will seek to provide productive loans to returnees who enroll in its programs,” he said. “Let’s build social wealth in Colombia.”

Petro had initially refused Sunday to take U.S. deportation flights carrying Colombian nationals, saying the U.S. cannot “treat Colombian migrants as criminals.” 

The Trump administration, in response, announced the immediate suspension of visa issuance and travel sanctions on government officials. President Donald Trump warned he would slap 25% tariffs on all goods from Colombia.

“Measures will continue until Colombia meets its obligations to accept the return of its own citizens,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. “America will not back down when it comes to defending its national security interests.”

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At first, Petro retaliated with his own 25% tariffs on U.S. goods. Petro insisted he would not accept the return of migrants who were not treated with “dignity and respect” and who had arrived shackled or on military planes. 

But the White House later said Colombia’s president had caved “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,” 

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On Tuesday, two Colombian air force planes carrying deportees arrived in Bogotá. 

On Friday, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed that visa processing in Bogotá had resumed.

“Our commitment to work together with Colombia to advance our mutual interests remains steadfast,” she said.

Fox News’ Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.