Colombians Face Strict US Airport Controls After Diplomatic Crisis

Colombian citizens entering the United States are now facing extremely strict controls at airports. Following last week’s diplomatic fallout between President Petro and President Trump, the U.S. has introduced enhanced security controls, negatively impacting both Colombian tourists and residents in the U.S.

Colombians suffer from enhanced US airport controls

Reports are emerging of Colombian passengers traveling to the U.S. being subjected to rigorous scrutiny by immigration authorities at airports.

Last week, Petro refused to accept U.S. deportation flights carrying Colombian citizens, citing degrading treatment. Trump responded by imposing a series of immediate sanctions and threats. Some of these measures targeted the movement of people and included the introduction of travel bans and visa restrictions affecting government officials, their families, and members of Petro’s political party, as well as regular Colombian citizens.

Colombians must now endure heightened airport controls, with exclusive immigration lines designated for Colombian citizens and foreigners traveling from Colombia, including those merely transiting through the country.

Passengers arriving in the U.S. told Colombian media Noticias Caracol that they were subjected to extensive immigration procedures. According to their testimonies, security checks and interviews with authorities lasted up to four hours.

“They’re searching everyone. They send you to the ‘little room,’ search your luggage, and check everything. [It is] humiliating,” said Darlys Quintero, a Colombian who had arrived at a U.S. airport.

Daniela Escobar, a passenger who arrived in Miami, told Noticias Caracol: “We had to go through multiple screenings, our bags were searched several times, and we were detained without explanation. We were treated very poorly by U.S. immigration officials.”

A foreign traveler who arrived in the U.S. from Colombia gave a similar testimony. “If you have a connection in Colombia or any flight coming from Colombia, you go through about four security checkpoints. It’s unbelievable. They send you back and forth, you’re held in a room, they don’t give you your passport, and they check your bags one, two, even three times,” he said to Noticias Caracol.

“The situation is bad. If you’re coming from Colombia, bring a lot of patience because as soon as you get off the plane, immigration agents will be waiting and will place you in a separate line,” a Colombian airline pilot told online media Infobae. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a resident, a citizen, or even have Global Entry. Even I, as a pilot in uniform, couldn’t use a different line. Normally, I have access to the crew line or, with Global Entry, a faster entry process,” he added.

According to Colombian authorities, the situation is expected to normalize soon, with visa issuance set to resume shortly after being suspended on Monday.

Related: Colombians Deported from US Report ICE Mistreatment