Colombia buckles: Trump shows how tariff threats will work if nations shun illegal migrants’ deportation

As the US escalates its campaign to round up illegal migrants and deport them on military planes, it overcame opposition from Colombia through threats of tariffs, offering a preview of how President Donald Trump will enforce his campaign promise.

After Colombia initially refused to allow two aircraft carrying its nationals, apprehended as illegal migrants in the US, to land, Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on imports from the country, which he threatened to double within a week.

However, by Sunday night, Colombia’s resistance crumbled. The White House confirmed that Colombia had agreed to the “unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens from Colombia,” including those arriving on military planes.

In a show of force on Sunday, federal agents spread out across the US to round up criminal illegal migrants.

Trump had promised mass deportations as part of his Day 1 agenda, but the logistical challenge of rounding up millions has led his administration to focus on those with criminal backgrounds, while reinvigorating the enforcement of laws that were previously not strictly followed.

Meanwhile, Brazil protested the handcuffing of deportees arriving on US planes, calling it “degrading treatment.” Mexico briefly refused to let US military planes carrying deportees land last week but quickly reversed the decision.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, “It is the responsibility of each nation to take back their citizens who are illegally present in the United States in a serious and expeditious manner.”

Following a meeting between Rubio and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday, the US confirmed that they discussed “irregular migration,” with India agreeing to take back illegal migrants. Reports suggested around 20,000 Indians would be repatriated.

While this aligns with Trump’s goal of removing illegal migrants, it also addresses India’s concerns about criminal gangs and extremists operating from the US.

There are approximately 11 million illegal migrants in the US, with about 725,000 of them being Indians, according to the Pew Research Center.

Although the roundups of illegal immigrants, particularly those with criminal histories, have continued under former President Joe Biden, they were intensified after Trump declared a national emergency over illegal migration last Monday.

On Sunday, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove announced that multiple federal agencies would assist the Department of Homeland Security in rounding up illegal migrants to “secure the border, stop this invasion.” He and Border Czar Tom Homan were in Chicago, where enhanced operations had been launched.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency announced “enhanced targeted operations” in Chicago to apprehend “potentially dangerous criminal aliens.” Chicago is one of the sanctuary cities that claims to protect illegal migrants and prohibits local authorities from cooperating with immigration officials.

Operations were also underway in other locations, including Colorado, where about 50 people were arrested in a raid at a nightclub, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). The agency reported that many arrested were members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal gang labeled a terrorist organization by Trump.

Raids also took place in Los Angeles, Savannah (Georgia), Omaha (Nebraska), and Arizona. On Friday, operations were carried out in Newark, New Jersey.

Homan warned of legal action against those obstructing immigration operations.

Despite Chicago’s sanctuary city status, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said in an interview with CNN that the state would cooperate in deporting criminal illegal migrants or those under deportation orders, but would not participate in raids.

The White House posted stylized photos of some individuals arrested, detailing crimes such as links to the Islamic State terror group, membership in the MS-13 gang, rape, sexual abuse of minors, murder, and driving under the influence.

CBS reported that the US is also considering a deal with El Salvador to send illegal migrants from other countries there, with plans to designate the Central American nation as a “safe third country.” This would resemble Britain’s plan to send migrants to Rwanda, which was struck down by the British Supreme Court.

Australia also sent some asylum-seekers to camps in Papua New Guinea and enacted legislation last year to expand the program.