Xiomara Castro de Zelaya (Credit: Ricardo Stuckert/PR)
Honduras President has called for an urgent meeting of all presidents and heads of state from Latin American and Caribbean nations, following a backfired threat by Colombia against U.S. President Donald Trump.
It can be recalled that this is the same president who threatened to terminate military cooperation with the United States if President Donald Trump proceeded with his plan for mass deportations of illegal immigrants, including those from Honduras.
On Sunday night, Xiomara Castro de Zelaya, the current President Pro Tempore of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), summoned an emergency meeting of all presidents and heads of state within the region.
“As President Pro Tempore (PPT) of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), I hereby call an urgent meeting of presidents and heads of state next Thursday, January 30, at 11:00 am (Honduras time),” Xiomara Castro de Zelaya wrote on X.
The memo reads:
“The Pro Tempore Presidency (PPT) of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), currently held by the Republic of Honduras, presents its kind regards to all the National Coordinators of the Member States of CELAC, on the occasion of reporting that President Iris Xiomara Castro is calling an URGENT Extraordinary Meeting of Presidents and Heads of State of CELAC for next Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. (Honduras).
In this regard, it is reported that said meeting has been scheduled in a hybrid format. It is also worth noting that His Excellency Gustavo Petro Urrego, President of the Republic of Colombia, incoming PPT of CELAC, has confirmed his participation in person in Tegucigalpa.
Agenda Items
Migration,
Environment,
Latin American and Caribbean Unity.
The Pro-Tempore Presidency (PPT) of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) takes this opportunity to express to all the National Coordinators of the Member States of CELAC its High and Distinguished Consideration.”
Como Presidenta Pro Témpore (PPT) de la Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños (CELAC), convoco con carácter urgente a una reunión de presidentes y jefes de Estado; próximo jueves 30 de enero a las 11:00 a.m. (hora de Honduras). pic.twitter.com/vEXCwCZBQl
— Xiomara Castro de Zelaya (@XiomaraCastroZ) January 26, 2025
The tensions began when leftist Colombian President Gustavo Petro, a former Marxist guerrilla and a vocal critic of U.S. foreign policy, confirmed that he had blocked the flights containing criminal illegal aliens in a post on the X platform.
“A migrant is not a criminal and must be treated with the dignity that every human being deserves,” Petro wrote, alongside a video of Brazilian deportees being flown out of the US on Friday.
“That’s why I turned back the US military planes that were carrying Colombian migrants. I cannot allow migrants to remain in a country that does not want them; but if that country sends them back, it must be with dignity and respect for them and for our country. We will receive our fellow citizens on civilian planes, without treating them like criminals. Colombia is respected.”
Un migrante no es un delincuente y debe ser tratado con la dignidad que un ser humano merece.
Por eso hice devolver los aviones militares estadounidenses que venían con migrantes colombianos.
No puedo hacer que los migrantes queden en un país que no los quiere; pero si ese país… https://t.co/U1MmWrNio1
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) January 26, 2025
The U.S. Department of State swiftly issued a statement calling out Petro’s hypocrisy after he initially authorized the flight of the plane, only to cancel it at the last minute.
“President Trump has made it clear that under his administration, America will no longer be lied to nor taken advantage of. 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.
Colombian President Petro had authorized flights and provided all needed authorizations and then canceled his authorization when the planes were in the air. As demonstrated by today’s actions, we are unwavering in our commitment to end illegal immigration and bolster America’s border security.”
Trump immediately announced a 25% tariff on all Colombian goods entering the United States, set to increase to 50% within a week, along with travel bans and visa revocations targeting Colombian government officials.
President Trump stated on his social media platform, Truth Social:
“I was just informed that two repatriation flights from the United States, with a large number of Illegal Criminals, were not allowed to land in Colombia. This order was given by Colombia’s Socialist President Gustavo Petro, who is already very unpopular amongst his people. Petro’s denial of these flights has jeopardized the National Security and Public Safety of the United States, so I have directed my Administration to immediately take the following urgent and decisive retaliatory measures:
-Emergency 25% tariffs on all goods coming into the United States. In one week, the 25% tariffs will be raised to 50%.
-A Travel Ban and immediate Visa Revocations on the Colombian Government Officials, and all Allies and Supporters.
-Visa Sanctions on all Party Members, Family Members, and Supporters of the Colombian Government.
-Enhanced Customs and Border Protection Inspections of all Colombian Nationals and Cargo on national security grounds.
-IEEPA Treasury, Banking and Financial Sanctions to be fully imposed.
These measures are just the beginning. We will not allow the Colombian Government to violate its legal obligations with regard to the acceptance and return of the Criminals they forced into the United States!”
After Trump’s warning, Secretary Rubio promptly directed the suspension of visa issuance at the U.S. Embassy Bogota consular section.
He implemented travel sanctions on individuals and their families involved in obstructing U.S. repatriation flight operations.
“Measures will continue until Colombia meets its obligations to accept the return of its own citizens. America will not back down when it comes to defending its national security interests,” the Department of State wrote.
The State Department will continue to enforce and prioritize an America First agenda. Following President Petro’s refusal to accept two repatriation flights he previously authorized, @SecRubio immediately ordered a suspension of visa issuance at the U.S. Embassy Bogota consular…
— Department of State (@StateDept) January 26, 2025
Immediately, Petro embarrassingly folded to President Donald Trump’s strategic pressure, making a drastic U-turn by sending the presidential plane to collect Colombian deportees previously barred from landing.
Petro also threatened to impose a 50% tariff on U.S. goods, though Colombia later settled on a 25% tariff. But this threat didn’t push through after Colombia caved in.
“The Government of Colombia has agreed to all of President Trump’s terms, including the unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on U.S. military aircraft, without limitation or delay.
Based on this agreement, the fully drafted IEEPA tariffs and sanctions will be held in reserve, and not signed, unless Colombia fails to honor this agreement.
The visa sanctions issued by the State Department, and enhanced inspections from Customs and Border Protection, will remain in effect until the first planeload of Colombian deportees is successfully returned.
Today’s events make clear to the world that America is respected again. President Trump will continue to fiercely protect our nation’s sovereignty, and he expects all other nations of the world to fully cooperate in accepting the deportation of their citizens illegally present in the United States.”
The Government of Colombia has agreed to all of President Trump’s terms pic.twitter.com/mQocusSGOC
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) January 27, 2025
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