House Speaker Mike Johnson said that “Colombia and all nations should be on notice” after President Donald Trump used the threat of tariffs to strong-arm Colombia into agreeing to a deal to accept deportees under his mass deportation policy.
Why It Matters
The Trump administration has promised to carry out the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history.
By threatening to impose economic penalties, Trump aims to compel foreign nations into negotiating agreements to take back individuals facing deportation, significantly increasing the stakes of this unprecedented operation.
What to Know
Colombia backed down from a looming trade war with the United States just hours after Trump threatened Bogota with tariffs and visa restrictions for turning away U.S. military aircraft carrying deported migrants.
The president said on Sunday in a post on Truth Social that he had been informed that two repatriation flights from the U.S., carrying a significant number of undocumented immigrants, were not permitted to land in Colombia.
“This order was given by Colombia’s Socialist President Gustavo Petro, who is already very unpopular amongst his people,” Trump said, adding that the Colombian president’s refusal to allow these flights had put the United States’ national security and public safety at risk.
In response to Columbia’s defiance, Trump ordered his administration to take immediate retaliatory action, slapping a 25 percent tariff on goods bound for the U.S., and banning travel for Colombian government officials, as well as all allies and supporters.
Petro then instructed an increase in import tariffs on goods from the U.S. Later Sunday, he posted on X, stating that he had directed the foreign trade minister to raise import tariffs on U.S. goods by 25%.
In a statement later on Sunday, the White House announced that Colombia had agreed to accept the migrants and that Washington would not impose the previously threatened penalties.
Meanwhile, Honduras threatened to shut down rent-free United States military bases in the country if Trump carries out his mass deportation policy.
Trump could threaten to impose tariffs on other countries that are not willing to cooperate with the administration on deportation flights.
In 2022, the unauthorized immigrant population in the U.S. was estimated at 11 million, according to a July 2024 report by the Pew Research Center, which based its estimates on the 2022 American Community Survey, the most recent data available.
While most Americans support Trump’s mass deportation plans, they are divided on the methods to be used in implementing them.
A New York Times/Ipsos poll, which surveyed 2,128 adults from January 2 to 10, indicated 55 percent strongly or somewhat supported his plans. Eighty-eight percent supported “deporting immigrants who are here illegally and have criminal records.” The poll had a margin of error of 2.6 percentage points in either direction.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll, which surveyed 1,077 adults on January 20 and 21, suggested 39 percent agreed “illegal immigrants should be arrested and put in detention camps while awaiting deportation hearings,” compared to 42 percent who disagreed. The online poll had a margin of error of roughly 4 percentage points.
What People Are Saying
Mike Johnson said in a post on X: “Colombia and all nations should be on notice – Congress is fully prepared to pass sanctions and other measures against those that do not fully cooperate or follow through on requirements to accept their citizens who are illegally in the United States.
“President Trump is putting America first, just like he said he would. And Congress will implement policies that reinforce his agenda.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement: “The Government of Colombia has agreed 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. Based on this agreement, the fully drafted IEEPA tariffs and sanctions will be held in reserve, and not signed, unless Colombia fails to honor this agreement. The visa sanctions issued by the State Department, and enhanced inspections from Customs and Border Protection, will remain in effect until the first planeload of Colombian deportees is successfully returned. Today’s events make clear to the world that America is respected again. President Trump will continue to fiercely protect our nation’s sovereignty, and he expects all other nations of the world to fully cooperate in accepting the deportation of their citizens illegally present in the United States.”
What Happens Next
As the Trump administration pushes forward with its deportation operation, other countries may face similar pressure to cooperate with the policy.
Trump’s spat with Colombia will serve as a warning to other nations who do not comply.
The threat of tariffs and other punitive measures could become a key tool in the Trump administration’s strategy to ensure the repatriation of undocumented immigrants. If Colombia, which has now agreed to accept deportees, honors its commitment, the U.S. government may hold off on implementing further sanctions. However, the White House has made it clear that penalties will be swiftly enforced if any country fails to comply.
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