4 days ago
10
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load.
The president authorized the military to assist in deportations. The planes triggered a crisis between the United States and Colombia, and prompted questions. Here’s what to know.
Jan. 31, 2025, 5:03 a.m. ET
When President Gustavo Petro of Colombia announced on social media on Sunday that he had turned back U.S. military planes carrying deportees, President Trump came down hard.
He threatened tariffs and penalties so extreme Mr. Petro was forced to back down. “They pushed until he had to bend,” Jorge Enrique Robledo, a former longtime Colombian senator, said in an interview.
Later that day, the White House and Mr. Petro’s government announced that Colombia would welcome all Colombian deportees, including those on military jets, and Mr. Trump declared victory.
The crisis riveted attention to the Trump administration’s deportation efforts; it also raised questions about the military planes deporting migrants, and why they angered Mr. Petro and other Latin American leaders.
Have military planes always been used for deportations?
No. Rarely, in recent times, if ever, defense officials say.
As part of the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal migration, Mr. Trump signed an executive order last week authorizing the U.S. military to assist in securing the border.
