BOGOTá, Colombia – Visa appointments at the U.S. Embassy in Colombia were canceled Monday following a dispute over U.S. deportation flights that nearly turned into a war costly trade between the two countries.
Dozens of Colombians showed up outside the U.S. Embassy in Bogota and received letters from local staff who said their appointments had been canceled “due to the Colombian government’s refusal to accept repatriation flights of Colombian nationals. Others with visa appointments for Monday received similar emails.
It can take up to two years to get an appointment.
Tensions between Colombia and the United States escalated Sunday after President Gustavo Petro wrote an early morning message on X saying he would not allow two U.S. Air Force planes carrying Colombian deportees to land in the country. He had previously authorized the flights.
Petro also shared a video that showed another group of deportees arriving in Brazil with chains on their legs. He said Colombia would only accept deportation flights when the United States had established protocols that ensured the “dignified treatment” of deported migrants.
President Donald Trump responded with a post of his own on Truth Social, in which he called for 25% emergency tariffs on Colombian exports to the United States, and also said that U.S. visas for government officials Colombian would be revoked, while goods originating from goods from the South American country will face enhanced customs inspections.
Meanwhile, the State Department said Sunday it would stop issuing visas to Colombian nationals until deportation flights resume.
Tensions eased Sunday evening following negotiations between the countries, with the White House saying in a statement that Colombia had allowed deportation flights to resume and “accepted all of President Trump’s mandates,” including the arrival of deportees on military flights.
In the past, most Colombians removed from the United States had arrived on charter flights arranged by U.S. government contractors.
The White House said tariffs on Colombian exports would be suspended, but added that visa restrictions on Colombian officials and enhanced custom inspections would remain “until the first board of Colombian deportees is returned with success.”
The State Department did not respond to requests for comment on the resumption of visa appointments.
Last year, more than 1.6 million Colombians traveled legally to the United States, according to a Commerce Department report. The report said the United States was the top destination for Colombians traveling abroad.
