Petro urges undocumented Colombians to return home amid diplomatic tensions with US

By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Friday urged undocumented Colombians living in the US to “leave their jobs immediately" and return to their country, promising government aid to those who come back.

“I ask undocumented Colombians in the United States to immediately leave their jobs in that country and return to Colombia as soon as possible. Wealth is produced only by the working people,” Petro said on X.

The Colombian head of state promised government aid to immigrants who come back.

"Department of Social Prosperity, DPS, will seek to provide productive loans to those who return and enroll in its programs. Let's build social wealth in Colombia," Petro said shortly after posting a video with images of raids against undocumented immigrants in the US saying that “the Statue of Liberty no longer shines.”

“It is up to American youth and workers to turn the light back on,” he said, threatening to revive the diplomatic tensions between Bogota and Washington generated days ago when he refused to accept US flights carrying deported Colombian immigrants.

The decision sparked the rejection of President Trump and an exchange of mutual threats about the imposition of tariffs. Colombia finally sent its own planes to repatriate its nationals but tensions between the two countries have continued escalating.

On Wednesday, the Colombian president compared the actions of Trump's government against undocumented immigrants with the processes of the Nazi regime during World War II to send Jews and other minorities to concentration camps.

The diplomatic standoff caused the temporary closure of the US visa service in Bogota and generated uncertainty among those with canceled visa appointments. The US embassy in Colombia resumed the visa processing service on Friday.

Petro's actions have been criticized by Colombia's political opposition, who accuse him of provoking the diplomatic crisis and jeopardizing the country's relationship with the US.