According to Colombia’s Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia, 2,000 Colombians have been deported from the U.S. since the beginning of the second Trump administration.
So far, the deportations have occurred on 12 flights, which began shortly after President Trump was sworn into office on January 20, 2025. Sarabia stated that deportations are happening at a rate of two flights per week, roughly the same as during the Biden administration.
In a press conference, Sarabia added that, given the coordination between the two countries, the deportation rate is not expected to increase.
Colombia’s government says deportees human rights will be safeguarded
Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia stated, “President Gustavo Petro’s directive is, without fail, to guarantee the return of our compatriots with full dignity and the protection of their rights.” She also added that the Colombian government will provide “comprehensive care” to returning nationals.
Earlier this year, Colombia and the U.S. faced a diplomatic crisis when President Petro refused to accept deportation flights on military aircraft, stating concerns over the deportees’ dignity. In response, President Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Colombia, among other sanctions, arguing that the government had already accepted similar deportation flights in the past.
Negotiations between the two countries quickly resolved the conflict, restoring normal diplomatic relations, with the Petro administration vowing to cover the full cost of deportations, even making the presidential plane available.
Trump administration reportedly frustrated over the pace of mass deportations
One of the key priorities on President Trump’s agenda upon returning to office was cracking down on illegal immigration and carrying out mass deportations. However, according to The New York Times, the Trump administration is reportedly frustrated with the pace at which these deportations are occurring.
Federal data shows that the Trump administration has made 23,000 immigration-related arrests so far, but deportation rates have not kept up. As a result, the number of immigrants held in ICE detention has sharply increased, straining resources. The high-security prison at Guantanamo has even been made available to detain migrants with criminal records.
The administration has encountered several bureaucratic and logistical challenges in delivering on President Trump’s mass deportation promises. Deporting immigrants is costly and time-consuming, complicating efforts to accelerate the process.
As of early March, the Trump administration has successfully deported 18,000 people, including 2,000 Colombians.