(31 Jan 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bogota, Colombia – 31 January 2025
1. Various of Colombian citizens queueing outside the visa section at the Embassy of the United States
2. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Katya Quiroz, Colombian citizen:
"A very kind young lady told me that she did not know what day I would receive my e-mail, but in the queue, there were many people who had missed their appointments and had received their appointments for today, fortunately for them."
3. People queueing, US flag in the background
4. People waiting in line
5. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Jairo Alfonso Sánchez, Colombian citizen:
"They said that as of today, they will resume (the appointments) for those of us who had the appointment for today. Those who had their appointments for last week will have to wait for the e-mail. I want to go to the United States. I’m dying to see New York."
6. Various of people queuing
7. Mounted police
STORYLINE:
The U.S. embassy in Colombia resumed processing visas Friday after they were suspended in response to Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s refusal to accept flights carrying deported immigrants.
The White House claimed victory in a showdown with Colombia over accepting flights of deported migrants from the U.S. on Sunday, hours after President Donald Trump threatened steep tariffs on imports and other sanctions on the longtime U.S. partner.
Over a hundred people waited to enter the embassy for their visa appointments.
The suspension of services affected hundreds of visa applicants like Katya Quiroz, who received an email on Sunday – the day the diplomatic tension began – notifying her of the cancellation of an interview appointment.
Quiroz, a 56-year-old dentist, attempted to enter the embassy on Friday but was unable to do so because her appointment had not been rescheduled.
"A very kind young lady told me that she did not know what day I would receive my e-mail, but in the queue, there were many people who had missed their appointments and had received their appointments for today, fortunately for them," she said.
Petro, on Friday, called on Colombians working without legal status in the United States to leave their jobs immediately and return home as soon as possible.
“Wealth is produced only by the working people,” Petro said in a message on the social network X. “Let’s build social wealth in Colombia.”
The leftist president said his government would grant loans to those who accept his offer to return to the country and enlist in one of his programs to start a business.
AP Video by Marko Alvarez
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