The Trump administration deported over 200 Colombians this week, claiming they were “illegal criminals.” However, Colombian officials stated that none of them had criminal records. Among those deported were two pregnant women and more than 20 children, highlighting concerns about the treatment of migrants under the new U.S. immigration policy.
Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo emphasized that being a migrant is not a crime. The dispute between Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro escalated over the weekend as the U.S. pushed for mass deportation flights. Initially, Trump threatened trade sanctions, but he later dropped them after Colombia agreed to accept the deportees.
Since taking office, Trump has prioritized deporting violent criminals, enlisting federal agencies for a large-scale operation. However, the Department of Homeland Security has not provided evidence that the deported Colombians had criminal backgrounds. The administration has removed 7,300 undocumented immigrants in the past week, but ICE data shows that only 8% of those targeted for deportation have criminal records.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the administration considers all undocumented immigrants as criminals, marking a shift in U.S. immigration policy. Deportation, however, remains a civil proceeding, not a criminal one. Federal records also show that most border crossers do not have criminal records.
Colombia has long accepted deportation flights from the U.S., but Petro initially denied entry to two U.S. military planes, insisting that deportations be handled with dignity. Instead of using U.S. military flights, the Colombian government dispatched its own air force to transport the deportees.
The flights carried 201 Colombians from El Paso and San Diego. One deportee described being shackled by U.S. border agents, while Colombia’s child welfare agency confirmed that all children were accompanied by adults. The government provided medical care and resettlement assistance to those returning.
Despite the controversy, Trump vowed to continue deportation flights, insisting that Colombia must comply with U.S. demands. Petro, however, reaffirmed that migrants are not criminals but individuals seeking a better life.