A diplomatic victory About Colombia A busy week concluded for the US state department among the new State Secretary Marco Rubio, who supervised an agency that quickly made border security and immigration a top priority – a flurry of actions in the space of a week.
After Colombian President Gustavo Petro refused to take the American deportation flights with Colombian nationals on Sunday, Rubio announced the immediate suspension of the issue of Visa in the country, as well as traveling to government officials.
“Measures will continue until Colombia meets its obligations to accept the return of his own citizens,” said Rubio. “America will not come back when it comes to defending his national security interests.”
State Secretary Marco Rubio speaks after being sworn by vice -president JD Vance in the vice -presidential ceremonial office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at De Witte Huis -Campus on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 in Washington, DC (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Within a few hours, Colombia was withdrawn and agreed to what the White House said were the conditions of President Donald Trump. However, the administration said that visa sanctions would remain in force until the deportations were received.
The diplomatic collision was a strong finish of what an immigration -oriented week has been for not only the administration as a whole, but also the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The agency was involved in several instructions and steps on visa issue, migration and financing at foreign organizations.
On Rubios first day at the office, the Consular Officials Department commissioned to put national security first and foremost when revising Visa and the Department ordered to implement improved control for visa applications from countries where concerns about a Increased national security risk.
New State Secretary Marco Rubio pauses refugee activities, helps visa research
He would later explain the priorities of the administration, which focused on terminating mass migration and increasing border protection as top priorities.
Migrants who were deported from the American stand on the Border Bridge Bridge of El Chaparral in Tijuana, Mexico, at the end of Tuesday, January 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
“First of all, we have to curb mass migration and secure our borders. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will not undertake activities that facilitate or encourage mass migration,” said Rubio. “Our diplomatic relations with other countries, in particular in the western hemisphere, will give priority to securing America’s boundaries, stopping illegal and destabilizing migration and negotiating illegal immigrants.”
Separately, a higher official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told FOX News Digital that made a global cable clear that officials should resist the pressure to speed up visa or passport processing at the expense of security problems.
Click here for more immigration coverage
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs then also pampered all new financing obligations Foreign utility programs Via the state department or US Agency for International Development. Conservatives are long -term concerns that those programs can aggravate mass migration.
The Department has suspended the refugee recording program about the admission to refugees – in response to an executive order by President Trump. It also gave a global warning that announced in the coming changes to the citizenship of the birthright in response to another Trump order.
Since then, the department has worked with other agencies on border security and the implementation of the Birdright citizenship order, including working to cancel a green card for a Moroccan terrorist, the official said.
That collaboration could be seen on Sunday when several agencies worked together to tackle the disagreement with Colombia.
Click here to get the Fox News app
“As demonstrated by today’s actions, we are unwavering in our dedication to put an end to illegal immigration and to strengthen that of America border security“Said Rubio.
Julia Johnson from Fox News has contributed to this report.
