A recently deported woman who arrived in Bogotá on Tuesday with her young son urged her fellow Colombians to reconsider pursuing migration to the United States.
has taken on migrants like her.
“Don’t go, don’t go, because they’re deporting everyone,” she said.
Why It Matters
Two Colombian Air Force planes carrying deportees from the U.S. landed at El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá on Tuesday, following a weekend standoff between Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro.
, a spokesperson for the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the flights carried 201 Colombian nationals, including men, women and children. The first flight, from El Paso, had 91 passengers—46 men and 45 women. The second flight, from San Diego, transported 110 people, including 62 men, 32 women, and 16 minors.
What To Know
, highlighting the emotional hardships many deportees endure upon their return.
The woman, who arrived at the U.S. southern border last week and was detained, described a significant shift in migration protocols. She noted that the U.S. is no longer promptly releasing migrants who apply for asylum, marking a departure from previous practices.
“They’re not going to release you the next day; they will keep you there,” she said. “There are people who have been detained for a month, and some people are unaccounted for.”
The woman recounted her experience in U.S. custody, describing conditions that left her young son hungry. “He hasn’t eaten; he’s malnourished,” she said, adding that they spent days without proper food during their detention.
Other deportees echoed her sentiments.
“I was trying to be in that country legally. I had a job here in Colombia; I am a mechatronics engineer,” Fredy Alexander, another returnee, told the local press upon his arrival. After 12 days in detention, his asylum request was denied, and he was abruptly sent back to Colombia.
Colombian officials confirmed that most deportees on these flights have no criminal records.
.
In 2024 alone, Colombia received 124 deportation flights, part of the U.S.’s expanded efforts to accelerate mass removals.
What People Are Saying
“As part of the agreement with our partners in the United States, the first Colombian Air Force flight will take off in just a few minutes to ensure the dignified return of 110 Colombian nationals. We have worked to protect their rights, with the support of our consulates, prioritizing the well-being of our people and strengthening the bilateral relationship.”
“Migrants who are here illegally are criminals, as far as this administration is concerned. I understand the previous administration didn’t see it that way, so it’s a significant ‘culture shift’ to recognize law-breakers as criminals, but that’s what they are.”
What Happens Next
The Colombian Foreign Ministry said that Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo and Ambassador to the U.S. Daniel García-Peña are planning to travel to Washington, D.C., to discuss diplomatic relations following the dispute.
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