What's happening in the Trump administration
- The White House said tonight that Colombian President Gustavo Petro has agreed to President Donald Trump's terms amid a standoff over deportation flights from the United States.
- Earlier today, Trump said he would impose tariffs and other retaliatory measures on Colombia after it blocked two military deportation flights from the United States. Petro responded by announcing a 25% tariff on U.S. goods.
- Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove personally oversaw immigration raids Homeland Security conducted in Chicago this morning, a Justice Department official told NBC News.
- The Senate also continues to consider Trump's Cabinet picks, with treasury secretary nominee Scott Bessent scheduled to get a final confirmation vote tomorrow.
Tom Homan warns Colombia ‘there’ll be consequences’ if it doesn’t take back migrants
Trump “border czar” Tom Homan told NBC News that Colombia “needs to take back their citizens” after Trump threatened to retaliate against it for refusing to accept two planes of migrants this morning.
Homan said in Chicago that Trump “made Mexico do ‘remain in Mexico’” and “made El Salvador take back MS-13 members” when neither country wanted to do it.
Speaking about Colombia, he said, “Their country needs to take back their citizens.”
“We got a strong president willing to demand action. If they don’t act, then there’ll be consequences,” he said.
White House says Colombia has agreed to Trump's terms after tariff standoff
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that the Colombian government has agreed to Trump's terms after the White House threatened tariffs over Colombia's blocking military deportation flights.
"The Government of Colombia has agreed to all of President Trump’s terms, including the unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on U.S. military aircraft, without limitation or delay," Leavitt said in a statement.
She added that drafted actions on tariffs and sanctions would "be held in reserve, and not signed, unless Colombia fails to honor this agreement."
The State Department's visa sanctions and Customs and Border Protection's enhanced inspections "will remain in effect until the first planeload of Colombian deportees is successfully returned," she added.
Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo said in remarks delivered in Spanish that the country "will continue to receive Colombians deported, guaranteeing them dignified conditions as citizens subject to rights."
"The government, under the leadership of Gustavo Petro, has at its disposal the presidential plane to receive the Colombians that would have been deported today," he continued on the brief livestream. "Colombia reiterates that the diplomatic channels for interlocution will be open to maintain the rights, the national interest and the dignity of our citizens."
Activists host a 'know your rights' workshop for migrants in Chicago
As ICE deportation operations pick up across the Chicago area, several support groups have increased their efforts to educate migrants and community members about how best to interact with federal officers.
A “Unity in The Community: Know Your Rights Workshop” was held this afternoon at Concord Missionary Baptist Church on Chicago’s south side.
Church and community members, including Venezuelan migrants who are seeking asylum, were trained in how best to handle interactions with federal officers. The workshop highlighted a person’s right to remain silent and taught attendees how to identify a valid judicial warrant needed for agents to enter a home.
“We’re kind of teaching them not to have a false sense of security,” senior pastor Kenneth Phelps told NBC News after he hosted the workshop.
“Just because they do not match the criteria for which the Trump administrations are targeting,” he continued, “they do match the fact that they are Latino and Hispanic, so we want to make sure that they’re prepared in the event, because we do think that they will be racially profiled.”
Venezuelan migrant Marilis Tempo told NBC News she has been in Chicago for three months after having used the now-terminated CBP One app. While she said she doesn’t fear deportation for herself, she said Trump’s executive orders have scared and chilled many in her community.
“They’ve called us and tell us: ‘Don’t go out. Stay inside because Immigration is here,’” she said.
Immigration enforcement operations underway in cities across the U.S.
Immigration enforcement operations unfolded across multiple cities today, marking what Trump has called the beginning of an era of mass deportations that would primarily target migrants with criminal backgrounds but in which concerns remain that migrants with no criminal histories will be swept up, as well.
Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, told NBC News today that several people convicted of serious offenses, including murder and sex crimes, were apprehended. He added that collateral arrests — detentions of people without criminal convictions who were present during the raids — would occur.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a statement that its enhanced operations aim to “enforce U.S. immigration law and preserve public safety and national security by keeping potentially dangerous criminal aliens out of our communities.”
Coffee, crude oil, cut flowers: The Colombian goods you may be paying more for under Trump’s tariffs
Trump’s newly announced tariffs on goods from Colombia could drive up the prices of some items people buy every day.
Colombia is not one of the United States′ largest trading partners, but steep tariffs could still affect billions of dollars of economic activity.
According to data compiled by the Observatory of Economic Complexity, or OEC, petroleum is Colombia’s largest export to the United States, at roughly $6 billion in 2022.
The second-largest export from Colombia was coffee, at $1.8 billion, according to OEC. Colombia accounts for about 20% of coffee shipped to the United States, and it is the second-largest source of imports after Brazil, according to the U.S. Agriculture Department.
Tariffs on coffee could squeeze people who already have to pay up for their drinks.
Rubio orders pause in issuing visas at U.S. Embassy in Colombia
Rubio has ordered the U.S. Embassy in Colombia to suspend visa issuances after the country blocked deportation flights to the United States, the State Department said in a news release.
The release also said Rubio "is now authorizing travel sanctions on individuals and their families, who were responsible for the interference of U.S. repatriation flight operations."
"Measures will continue until Colombia meets its obligations to accept the return of its own citizens," it continued. "America will not back down when it comes to defending its national security interests."
Customs and Border Protection says it's taking steps to enforce Trump's retaliatory measures against Colombia
Customs and Border Protection said it will take "decisive measures" to enforce Trump's retaliatory measures against Colombia.
The measures include enhanced inspections of flights, private aircraft and cargo, to and from Colombia; denying boarding to flagged visa holders; and enforcing a travel ban on Colombian government officials with coordination from the State Department.
Trump speaks with U.K. prime minister
Trump held a call with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer today, the White House said in a release.
"President Trump offered his condolences for the recent loss of the Prime Minister’s brother and expressed his well wishes for the British Royal Family," the release said. "The two leaders also discussed the recent release of Israeli-British national Emily Damari from Hamas captivity and how both countries can promote a fair bilateral economic relationship."
The prime minister's office said in a release that Starmer also congratulated Trump on his inauguration and "paid tribute to President Trump’s role in securing the landmark ceasefire and hostages deal in Gaza."
"The two leaders stressed the importance of the close and warm ties between the UK and the US, and the President spoke of his respect and affection for the Royal Family," the prime minister's office said. "They agreed to meet soon and looked forward to further discussions then."
Colombian president imposes a 25% tariff on imported goods from the U.S.
In response to Trump's retaliatory measures following Colombia's decision to turn around deportation flights, Petro has announced a 25% tariff on all imports from the United States.
Petro said the government will also help direct Colombian exports to the rest of the world other than the United States.
"American products whose price will rise within the national economy must be replaced by national products, and the government will help in this regard," Petro said on X.
U.S. exports to Colombia totaled $16.5 billion in 2021, reaching a five-year peak in trade surplus and accounting for 0.9% of total exports.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro criticizes Marco Rubio's statement on flights of nationals
Colombian President Gustavo Petro hit back at Rubio after he claimed that Petro at first authorized and then revoked authorization for flights that were set to land in Colombia returning Colombian nationals.
Petro suggested that if the Foreign Affairs Ministry signed off on such authorizations, "it would never be under my direction," because, he said, he would "never allow Colombians to be brought in handcuffs on flights." Any official who allowed such a return would be a "cipayo," or a soldier serving foreign interests, Petro said.
It is unclear whether the Colombian nationals aboard the flight were handcuffed.