By Abiola Olawale
The Colombian government has offered to pay for the deportation of its citizens from the United States, aiming for what has been described as a “dignified deportation.”
The New Diplomat reports that the announcement came after a diplomatic spat between the US and Colombia over the treatment of Colombian migrants being deported.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro had criticized US President Donald Trump over the manner of deportation.
Petro also refused to accept US military planes carrying deportees, citing concerns over migrants being treated like criminals.
Petro had accused the US of treating the migrants like criminals, placing them in shackles and handcuffs.
In his response, Trump’s administration threatened tariffs on Colombian goods, leading to an escalating diplomatic spat between both countries.
However, the US government had since backtracked on its threats with the White House saying the Colombian government had accepted its conditions and reversed course.
Following the development, Colombia’s foreign ministry said on Friday that it had proposed to Mauricio Claver-Carone, Trump’s special envoy for Latin America, that they would “immediately assume the transfer of all citizens deported by the United States,” covering transportation costs for its nationals.
According to reports, Colombia is expecting the return of around 27,000 migrants whose deportation orders have been signed in the last six months by the Trump administration or that of his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden.
The development also amidst Trump’s pledge to carry out the largest deportation campaign in US history, vowing to expel millions of undocumented immigrants.
