Colombian President Gustavo Petro has announced that he will not allow US deportation flights carrying Colombian migrants to enter his country's airspace unless a protocol ensuring their dignified treatment is established.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Petro stated that the United States cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals.

He further revealed that US military planes carrying deported Colombian migrants were turned back, though details were not provided.

Petro clarified that civilian US flights with deported migrants would be accepted as long as the migrants were not treated 'like criminals.' His comments followed similar outrage from Brazil’s government over the treatment of deported Brazilians by the US, with reports of migrants being handcuffed during their deportation flight, a move Brazil deemed a 'flagrant disregard' for their basic rights.

AFP has not yet received confirmation from the United States regarding the blocking of these flights.

Petro's stance adds to growing tensions between the US and Latin American countries over deportation practices.