Trump's Trials - Colombia agrees to take deported migrants after Trump threatens tariffs

Episode Date: January 27, 2025

A war of words and threats of tariffs brought Colombia and the U.S. to the brink of a trade war, after the Latin American ally initially said it would not take U.S. planes carrying deported migrants. Support NPR and hear every episode sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

I'm Scott Detro and you're listening to Trump's terms from NPR. We're going to be doing all sorts of things nobody ever thought was even possible. It's going to be a very aggressive first hundred days of the new Congress. An unpredictable, transformative next four years. The United States is going to take off like a rocket ship. Each episode we bring you the latest news about the 47th president and the policy changes he is pursuing on his own terms. We know from experience that means challenging precedent, busting norms, and pushing against set ideas about what the federal government can and can't do.

It all raises questions about how much Washington and the country will change over the course of this term. NPR is covering it all in stories like the one you are about to hear, right after this. You're listening to Trump's terms from NPR is covering it all in stories like the one you are about to hear, right after this. You're listening to Trump's Terms from NPR. Every January, millions of people take the pledge to cut down on alcohol in the new year. If you're one of them, count on LifeKit, NPR's self-help podcast, for tips and tricks you can use to make the most out of your commitment. We'll help you draw up plans and have experts weigh in on how to stay motivated and kind to yourself throughout the month. Search Life Kits Dry January wherever you

get your podcasts for the tools you need to pull it off from NPR. Matt Wilson spent years doing rounds at children's hospitals in New York City. I had a clip on tie. I wore Heelys size 11. Matt was a medical clown. The whole of a medical clown is to reintroduce the sense of play and joy and hope and light into a space that doesn't normally inhabit. Ideas about navigating uncertainty. That's on the TED Radio Hour podcast from NPR. The White House is claiming victory in a deportation showdown between the United States and Colombia. As John Otis reports from Bogota, the two countries threatened each other with terrorists before Colombia backed down.

On Sunday, the Trump administration tried to send two military aircraft loaded with 160 deportees back to Colombia. But when the planes were already in the air, Colombian President Gustavo Petro revoked their landing rights. Trump responded by threatening to impose 25% tariffs on Colombian imports, financial sanctions, and visa restrictions on Colombian government officials. It looks like Trump is trying to make an example of Colombia for all countries that might be reluctant to take these planes. That's Adam Isakson of the Washington Office on Latin America, which advocates for human

rights in the Americas. He points out that Trump has also sparred with Mexico and has threatened to seize the Panama Canal. Trump, especially with the Americas, seems to be choosing bullying and humiliation as one of the central tactics in order to get his way. Until recently, the left-wing Petro government had been cooperating with the U.S. Last year, according to U.S. government figures, Colombia accepted 124 deportation flights. However, those were civilian flights. Now, Trump is using military aircraft, and there have been complaints of mistreatment. Last week, deported Brazilians arrived home in handcuffs and were subjected to, quote, degrading treatment, according to the Brazilian government.

In a post on X, Petro said he would not accept deportation flights until migrants are treated with respect. And after learning of Trump's sanctions, Petro announced reciprocal tariffs on U.S. imports and said in a message to Trump, quote, your blockade doesn't frighten me. But apparently, Petro had second thoughts. The U.S. tariffs would have affected coffee, flowers, and more than 11,000 other Colombian goods. Late Sunday night, Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo announced that the impasse was over and that the country would, in fact, continue to receive deportation flights.

The White House claimed Colombia had agreed to all of Trump's terms, including the use of military aircraft for deportation. Isakson pointed out that Colombia has been Washington's most loyal ally in Latin America for the past quarter century. You need Colombia's cooperation on the fight against cocaine. They're a key trading partner, long-standing military cooperation. That's why, he said, blowing up bilateral relations over immigration makes little sense. For NPR News, I'm John Otis in Bogota, Colombia. Before we wrap up, a reminder, you can find more coverage of the incoming Trump administration

on the NPR Politics Podcast, where you can hear NPR's political reporters break down the day's biggest political news with new episodes every weekday afternoon. And thanks as always to our NPR Plus supporters who hear every episode of the show without sponsored messages. You can learn more at plus.npr.org. I'm Scott Detrow. Thanks for listening to Trump's terms from NPR.

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