Colombia has announced its willingness to finance the dignified deportation of its citizens from the United States, as stated by the foreign ministry on January 31.
This development follows a recent exchange of threats between Colombian President 'Gustavo Petro and former President Donald Trump regarding the handling of illegal migrants.
The two leaders had discussed potential trade tariffs of up to 50 percent.
The U.S. embassy in Bogotá suspended visa issuance in response to Petro's refusal to permit U.S. military flights for deportations.
Petro criticized the U.S. for treating migrants harshly, but in a shift towards compliance with Trump's demands, Colombia's foreign ministry proposed to cover the transportation costs for all deported citizens.
Petro emphasized that his government would not permit expelled migrants to be transported in handcuffs, and recent repatriations have reportedly occurred under humane conditions, with hundreds of Colombians, including children, returning home.
Colombia anticipates the return of approximately 27,000 migrants facing deportation orders from both the Trump and Biden administrations.
Trump has committed to an extensive deportation initiative targeting millions of undocumented immigrants, particularly from Latin America.
The United States remains Colombia's primary trade partner, having provided "substantial aid " over the years to combat drug trafficking and terrorism.