Colombian President Gustavo Petro turned back the US military planes that were carrying Colombian migrants for deportation and stressed the need for dignity and respect in their treatment.
In a post on X, Petro said, “A migrant is not a criminal and must be treated with the dignity that a human being deserves. That’s why I turned back the US military planes that were carrying Colombian migrants. I cannot allow migrants to remain in a country that does not want them; but if that country sends them back, it must be done with dignity and respect for them and for our country. We will receive our fellow citizens on civilian planes, without treating them like criminals. Colombia is respected.”
This statement comes in response to growing concerns over the treatment of deported migrants from the United States, highlighted by an incident involving Brazilian deportees.
Brazil’s government expressed outrage on Saturday after a group of 88 deported migrants arrived in Manaus, many in handcuffs and shackles. Passengers on the flight described inhumane conditions, with claims of being denied water, restricted bathroom access, and enduring extreme heat.
Viral videos also showed some migrants descending from the plane in restraints, prompting swift condemnation from Brazilian authorities.
Brazil’s minister of human rights Macaé Evaristo said that the passengers included vulnerable individuals, such as children with autism, who experienced severe distress during the flight.
In response, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ordered the mobilisation of a Brazilian Air Force aircraft to transport the migrants to their final destinations with dignity.
The Brazilian government has demanded explanations from Washington, calling the treatment a “flagrant disregard for the fundamental rights” of its citizens.
This week alone, multiple deportation flights have garnered international attention, including the repatriation of 265 migrants to Guatemala. According to reports, the US began employing military planes for these flights, citing logistical reasons, though this move has drawn significant backlash.
