Hundreds of US Visa Appointments Cancelled in Colombia Due to Deportation Flight Dispute

Visa appointments at the US Embassy in Colombia were cancelled on Monday due to a disagreement over deportation flights. This dispute nearly led to a trade conflict between the two nations. Many Colombians arrived at the US Embassy in Bogota, where local staff handed them letters stating their appointments were cancelled because Colombia refused to accept repatriation flights of its nationals. Others received similar notifications via email.

Tensions between Colombia and the United States heightened on Sunday after President Gustavo Petro announced on X that he would not permit two US Air Force planes carrying Colombian deportees to land. He had previously approved these flights. Petro also shared a video showing deportees arriving in Brazil with shackles on their legs, stating that Colombia would only accept deportation flights if the US ensured "dignified treatment" for expelled migrants.

US Response and Tariff Threats

Former President Donald Trump reacted by posting on Truth Social, suggesting 25% emergency tariffs on Colombian exports to the US. He also mentioned revoking US visas for Colombian officials and increasing customs inspections on goods from Colombia. Meanwhile, the State Department announced it would halt visa issuance to Colombian nationals until deportation flights resumed.

Negotiations between the countries helped ease tensions by Sunday night. The White House released a statement confirming that Colombia agreed to resume deportation flights and accepted all of Trump's conditions, including receiving deportees on military flights. Previously, most Colombian deportees arrived on charter flights arranged by US government contractors.

Impact on Trade and Travel

The White House stated that tariffs on Colombian exports would be suspended but noted that visa restrictions for Colombian officials and enhanced customs checks would persist until the first group of Colombian deportees returned successfully. The State Department has yet to comment on when visa appointments will resume.

Last year, over 1.6 million Colombians legally travelled to the United States, as reported by the Ministry of Commerce. The report highlighted that the United States was the primary destination for Colombians travelling abroad. The situation remains tense as both countries navigate these diplomatic challenges.