Daniel Oquendo and Andrei Barrientos, among 200 Colombian migrants facing deportation, were returned to their homeland this week under tense diplomatic conditions. The deportations, initially scheduled for early Sunday, sparked controversy due to the treatment the migrants received from U.S. immigration officials. These events culminated in a diplomatic standoff between the United States and Colombia, involving threats of tariff wars. Ultimately, Colombian President Gustavo Petro allowed the flights carrying deportees to land in Bogota, marking the end of a contentious episode.
Oquendo and Barrientos described their experience with U.S. immigration officials as demeaning, particularly when boarding the military flight. Standard procedures, including handcuffing and removing belts and shoelaces, were enforced, but Oquendo and Barrientos felt these measures were excessive and humiliating. Oquendo, who had crossed the U.S.-Mexico border on January 20 and was apprehended in San Diego, expressed his dismay upon hearing a U.S. official say, "The fun is over for you here, the music has changed … you’ve got to go back.”
Meanwhile, Barrientos faced deportation for the second time. Reflecting on his experience, he stated, "We didn’t do anything wrong: I’m not a criminal. Yes, I crossed the border illegally, but I was doing that to help my family … and they treated me like I was a gangster." Barrientos was likely deported for the last time and did not intend to attempt reentry. "I don’t want to try a third time," he declared.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro initially blocked the landing of two U.S. military flights carrying deportees, leading to a diplomatic standoff with threats of tariff wars exchanged between Petro and his U.S. counterpart. The tension subsided when Colombian authorities relented, allowing the deported migrants to land in Bogota.
Oquendo was finally repatriated to Colombia on Tuesday in an aircraft sent by the Colombian government. The flight was characterized as more dignified and respectful compared to their previous treatment. Barrientos echoed this sentiment, telling CNN that his deportation from El Paso to Bogota on Tuesday morning was a surprisingly welcoming experience after days of uncertainty.
Among the migrants deported this week were 77 women and 16 minors, as reported by the Colombian Migration Institute. After being deported, Oquendo and the other migrants spent the night in El Paso, where CBP officers removed their handcuffs, offering a brief respite from their ordeal. Oquendo reflected on this period, stating, "The CBP, they mostly spoke Spanish, they handcuffed us and pushed around as if we were in jail. I understand the military has some procedures, but there were children, families."
President Petro emphasized the need for humane treatment of migrants, asserting, "A migrant is not a criminal and must be treated with the dignity every human being is worthy of … I can’t have the migrants stay in a country that doesn’t want them; but if this country sends them away it must be with dignity and respect towards them and towards our country."
