OAN Staff James Meyers
8:15 AM – Friday, January 31, 2025
Colombian President Gustavo Petro pleaded for undocumented Colombians in the United States to quit their jobs “immediately” and return back to the South American country, according to a statement he posted on X Friday morning.
Petro also said in the post that Colombia’s Department of Social Prosperity would offer credits to returnees who enroll in its programs.
“Let’s build social wealth in Colombia,” the statement read, translated from Spanish.
The plea comes only days after Petro gave into President Donald Trump’s request to accept flights of undocumented migrants from the U.S.
Trump had initally threatened to impose emergency tariffs of up to 50% against Colombia for refusing to cooperate with the United States’ illegal immigration crackdown.
Following the threat of tariffs, Petro offered up the use of the official Colombian presidential plane to help shuttle migrants back to the country, calling it a response to “the Government’s commitment to guarantee decent conditions.”
On Sunday, the White House confirmed that Colombia had agreed to accept the migrants after all and that the U.S. would not impose its threatened penalties.
Two Colombian Air Force planes landed on Tuesday in Bogota following the feud. The plane had at least 200 migrants aboard.
The Colombian president welcomed them with a post on X after previously rejecting their return, saying they are now “free” and “in a country that loves them.”
Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo claimed that none of the at least 200 Colombians who were returned on Tuesday had criminal records in the U.S. or Colombia.
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