Gustavo Petro insists: “It is not the first time that we suspend US flights. Uu. Biden did not have the same Trump reaction”

“It is not the first time that we suspend US flights. UU. With Colombian returnees. We did it on May 5, 2023 with the same demand: The returnees are brought on commercial flights and without handcuff, ”he said.

Petro continued: “It was a direct indication that personally gave the then director of Migration, Fernando García. Then, Biden did not have the same Trump reaction and the situation of the returnees was improved. Now, we expect the same, we maintain our same position. ”

Of course, he said: “We start dialogues for a decent treatment protocol that has not yet been completed.”

President Petro has said that, for him, the way in which those deported arrive in Colombia is a red line in that process and that they will not allow them to be treated in unworthy conditions, since they are citizens who went to that country in Search for opportunities and not crime.

“It is not an American dream, it is an American nightmare (for) the one who lives it. We did not know if it was day or if it was night, even worse than a prisoner. The food they gave, gave it damaged, ”the migrant Carlos Gómez said on his arrest.

“They are Colombians, they are free and worthy and are in their homeland, where they are loved. The migrant is not a criminal, he is a human being who wants to work and progress, ”Petro wrote on the social network X by confirming the return of his nationals.

Images of the AFP at the El Dorado airport in Bogotá showed the deportees – among them 21 children and two pregnant women— leaving the international area of ​​the terminal wearing masks. Inside the airplanes they did not carry any shackle type, according to photographs disseminated by the Government.

I devoid of any belonging and even the laces in his shoes, Gomez denounced that he and his 17 -year -old son, who migrated just two weeks ago, were handcuffed while they were taken to one of the initial flights, which were rejected.

“‘Daddy, it hurts,” I cried, “he said about his son. “They didn’t mistreat me words because I preferred to go better silent. (…) As soon as we were in the cell and threw the food on the floor, ”he completed.

The then Colombian Chancellor, Luis Gilberto Murillo, said that the returnees “have no slope with justice, in Colombia or in the United States (…). They are not criminals, ”he said. Trump had described migrants on Monday, By claiming victory after the diplomatic incident, and said that the United States “has made clear all countries” that will return to “illegal foreigners.”

“I understand that we entered the United States illegally. But the treatment was somewhat precarious, ”Daniel, a migrant who paid more than $ 5,000 to coyotes to reach American territory, told Caracol Radio. “Initially, we came (on a first flight) from San Diego (…) handcuffed and with hip chains, as if we were extraditable or high -end criminals. And how are it that being Colombians do not let us land in Colombia? ”He complained.

The Colombian Government announced in parallel an “accessible credit plan” to support the reintegration of migrants, without specifying amounts. “We structure productive, associative and cheap credit plan for the migrant,” Petro said in X. The administration of Gustavo Petro has not yet clarified if more flights will arrive, which authorities will operate them and under what agreements with Washington.

*With AFP information.