Colombia turns away 2 U.S. military flights with migrants being deported, official says

Colombian President Gustavo Petro addresses people at the International Workers' Day march in Bogota, Colombia, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (Fernando Vergara / AP Photo)

WASHINGTON — Colombia on Sunday turned away two U.S. military aircraft that were flying to the South American country with migrants being deported, a U.S. official told Reuters.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the aircraft had left California with about 80 migrants on each one when Colombia pulled their clearances.

Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro said earlier on Sunday in a post on social media platform X that he would not allow the United States to fly migrants to Colombia in military aircraft.

Phil Stewart, Reuters