Republicans To Sanction Who Now?
Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) announced this week that he will be introducing a bill to impose sanctions on Colombia after the country’s president, Gustavo Petro, reportedly blocked two planes carrying deported migrants from the U.S. The planes, which were intended to return individuals with criminal records back to their home country, were turned away, causing significant concern over the safety and security implications for both the U.S. and Colombia.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Moreno expressed his intentions, “This week, I will introduce legislation to impose new sanctions on Colombia for refusing @realDonaldTrump’s migrant repatriation flights.” The legislation is expected to be supported by Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), and Representative Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), all of whom have voiced their disapproval of Colombia’s actions.
The controversy erupted after former President Donald Trump responded strongly to the Colombian government’s decision to deny entry to the repatriation flights. Trump, who has long criticized the lack of cooperation from foreign governments in managing illegal immigration, took to Truth Social to address the issue. He accused President Petro, a socialist leader who has faced growing unpopularity in Colombia, of jeopardizing U.S. national security and public safety by refusing to take back criminals who had been deported from the U.S.
In retaliation, Trump announced a series of punitive measures, including a 25% tariff on U.S.-bound Colombian goods and a travel ban on Colombian officials and their allies. “These actions are just the beginning,” Trump warned. “We will not stand by while the Colombian government violates its international obligations to take back the criminals they’ve forced into our country.”
Republican lawmakers, led by Moreno and his colleagues, are committed to holding Colombia accountable, sending a clear message that America’s borders and security will not be compromised by foreign governments failing to honor their responsibilities.
