On January 26, 2025, the United States and Colombia announced a resolution to their immigration dispute, which had escalated tensions between the two nations. The controversy centered around the deportation of illegal Colombian migrants from the U.S., which risked initiating a trade conflict.
The Colombian government agreed to accept all illegal migrants returning from the U.S. without restrictions, including those transported by U.S. military aircraft. U.S. officials stated that this agreement demonstrates a renewed respect for American sovereignty.
Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo confirmed the resolution, stating that the Colombian government had prepared a presidential aircraft to facilitate the return of deported citizens. Although he did not specify military aircraft for the deportations, his remarks aligned with the U.S. position.
The U.S. administration indicated that proposed tariffs and sanctions against Colombian officials would remain on hold but would be activated if Colombia violated the agreement. Previously, President Donald Trump had threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Colombian goods, escalating to 50% if Colombia did not accept deportation flights.
In retaliation, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced that Colombia would impose 50% tariffs on U.S. goods. In 2023, the U.S. was Colombia's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade amounting to $33.8 billion, resulting in a positive trade balance for the U.S. of $1.6 billion.