BOGOTÁ, Colombia — Visa appointments on the U.S. Embassy in Colombia have been canceled Monday following a dispute over deportation flights from the U.S. that almost became a expensive commerce conflict between the 2 international locations.
Acquiring an appointment can take as much as two years.
Tensions between Colombia and the US escalated Sunday after President Gustavo Petro wrote an early morning message on X saying he wouldn’t enable two U.S. air drive planes carrying Colombian deportees to land within the nation. He had beforehand approved the flights.
Petro additionally shared a video that confirmed one other group of deportees reportedly arriving in Brazil with shackles on their legs. He mentioned Colombia would solely settle for deportation flights when the US had established protocols that ensured the “dignified treatment” of expelled migrants.
President Donald Trump responded with a submit of his personal on Fact Social, through which he referred to as for 25% emergency tariffs on Colombian exports to the US, and likewise mentioned that the U.S. visas of Colombian authorities officers can be revoked, whereas items coming from the South American nation would face enhanced customs inspections.
In the meantime, the State Division mentioned Sunday it could cease issuing visas to Colombian nationals till deportation flights resumed.
Tensions decreased Sunday night time following negotiations between the international locations, with the White Home saying in an announcement that Colombia had allowed the resumption of deportation flights and “agreed to all of President Trump’s terms,” together with the arrival of deportees on army flights.
Previously, most Colombians faraway from the US had been arriving on constitution flights organized by U.S. authorities contractors.
The White Home mentioned tariffs on Colombian exports can be placed on maintain, however added that visa restrictions on Colombian officers and enhanced customized inspections would stay “until the first planeload of Colombian deportees is successfully returned.”
The State Division has not responded to requests for touch upon the resumption of visa appointments.
Final yr, greater than 1.6 million Colombians traveled to the U.S. legally, in line with a report by the Ministry of Commerce. The report mentioned the US was the highest vacation spot for Colombians touring overseas.