And so it begins
After President Petro of Colombia denied entry of two US repatriation flights of Colombian migrants, President Trump has announced these retaliatory measures. Petro said he wouldn’t allow the flights in until Trump establishes a protocol for the dignified treatment of migrants.
The move reflects how Mr. Trump is making an example out of Colombia as countries around the world are grappling with how to prepare for the mass deportations of unauthorized immigrants that he has threatened.
[…]
Colombia’s president, Gustavo Petro, said earlier Sunday in a series of social media posts that Colombia would not accept military deportation flights from the United States until the Trump administration provided a process to treat Colombian migrants with “dignity and respect.”
Mr. Petro also said that Colombia had already turned away military planes carrying Colombian deportees. While other countries in Latin America have raised concerns about Mr. Trump’s sweeping deportation plans, Colombia appears to be among the first to explicitly refuse to cooperate.
“I cannot make migrants stay in a country that does not want them,” Mr. Petro wrote, “but if that country sends them back, it should be with dignity and respect for them and for our country.” He said he was still open to receiving deportees on nonmilitary flights.
[…]
Mr. Petro also cast attention on Americans living in Colombia. In a social media post, Mr. Petro said that more than 15,000 Americans were living in the country without authorization, and called upon them to “regularize” their immigration status.
Colombia is America’s long time ally in the region, longer than any other country. But whatever. They dissed Dear Leader, they will pay.
Note that last paragraph. There are plenty of American expats living in other countries and I would guess that they may very well become pawns in this game too. There are almost 2 million of them living in Mexico alone.
Not that Trump cares. He probably thinks they shouldn’t be allowed to live overseas and keep their American citizenship anyway. But two can play at this game and there is a very good chance this is the kind of tit-for-tat that could lead to something very dangerous. It’s how wars begin.