Colombian President Gustavo Petro has called on undocumented Colombians residing in the United States to return home, promising incentives for those who choose to do so. In a post on social platform X, Petro urged his compatriots to leave their jobs in the U.S. and return to Colombia as soon as possible.

 

“I ask undocumented Colombians in the U.S. to immediately leave their jobs in that country and return to Colombia as soon as possible,” Petro wrote. “Wealth is produced only by working people.”

 

To encourage returnees, Petro announced that the Colombian Department of Social Prosperity would provide loans to those who enroll in the program. “Let’s build social wealth in Colombia,” he added.

 

The announcement came amid a tense diplomatic standoff between the U.S. and Colombia over immigration and trade policies. Petro initially declared that U.S. planes carrying deported Colombian migrants would not be permitted to land in the country. In response, President Trump threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on Colombian imports and barred Colombian government officials and their families from traveling to the U.S. Petro retaliated by imposing a reciprocal 25 percent tariff on American goods.

 

The dispute was temporarily resolved on Sunday night when White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that an agreement had been reached. Under the deal, Colombia agreed to accept “all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on U.S. military aircraft, without limitation or delay.”

 

Since then, flights have been arriving in Bogotá with deported Colombian migrants. Petro emphasized that these returnees were not criminals. “Our compatriots come from the United States free, dignified, without being handcuffed. We structure a productive, associative and cheap credit plan for migrants,” he stated.

 

The diplomatic tensions also had immediate consequences for travel between the two countries. Earlier this week, the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá suspended visa appointments for Colombians seeking entry to the United States, citing the Colombian government’s prior refusal to accept repatriation flights.

 

As the situation continues to unfold, Petro’s appeal to undocumented Colombians underscores his administration’s broader push to strengthen Colombia’s economy by encouraging expatriates to return and contribute to national development.

 

Based on a report by The Hill 2025-02-03

 

 

He constantly acts like Engineers, Doctors and research Scientists are on these flights. If things are all great in Columbia wouldn't they return on their own? 

A cunning plan to hurt the US by taking away its cheap labor no doubt. 

3 hours ago, Purdey said:

A cunning plan to hurt the US by taking away its cheap labor no doubt. 

They not Taking it's cheap Labor away.

They should't be there in the first place if they are Undocumented workers. They shouldn't be Employed if they have No Papers .

They shouldn't even be in the US.