Colombia calls migrants to return home
BOGOTA— Colombian President Gustavo Petro has issued a call to his fellow citizens working without legal status in the United States, urging them to leave their jobs and return home as soon as possible. In a bid to strengthen Colombia’s domestic economy, Petro emphasized the importance of harnessing the skills and labor of Colombian workers to build social wealth within the country.
“Wealth is only produced by the working people,” Petro stated in an early morning post on the X platform. “Let’s build social wealth in Colombia.” The leftist president outlined his government’s commitment to supporting those who heed his call by offering loans to returning citizens who enroll in programs aimed at starting businesses or contributing to local economic development.
Petro’s appeal comes in the wake of a heated dispute over immigration with U.S. President Donald Trump, which nearly escalated into a trade war and threatened to rupture diplomatic relations between the two long-standing allies. The tension began when Petro accused the Trump administration of mistreating migrants who entered the U.S. illegally, alleging that they were handcuffed and deported on military flights to Latin America. The situation worsened when Petro denied permission for two such flights to land in Colombia, prompting a strong reaction from Trump.
The standoff sparked concerns among investors and business leaders, who feared that Petro’s actions could jeopardize Colombia’s export-driven economy, which relies heavily on trade with the United States. After days of escalating rhetoric, the two sides eventually negotiated a truce, easing fears of a full-blown economic and diplomatic crisis.
According to data from Witness at the Border, an advocacy group that tracks deportation flights, Colombia has accepted 475 deportation flights from the U.S. between 2020 and 2024, ranking fifth behind Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and El Salvador. In 2024 alone, Colombia received 124 such flights, highlighting the ongoing challenges of migration and deportation between the two nations.
Petro’s call for Colombians to return home reflects his broader vision of fostering economic self-sufficiency and reducing dependence on foreign labor markets. By encouraging citizens to invest their talents and efforts domestically, Petro aims to create opportunities for growth and development within Colombia, while addressing the complex issues surrounding migration and international relations.
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