Colombian migrant deported after crossing U.S. border, caught in diplomatic standoff
Jan 20, 2025·Location: San Diego, CA
Country of origin: Colombia
Daniel Oquendo, 33, crossed the U.S.-Mexico border on January 20, 2025, and was apprehended in San Diego. He was placed on a U.S. military C-130 flight with handcuffs as part of a planned deportation to Colombia, but Colombian President Gustavo Petro blocked the landing of two military flights carrying about 200 deportees in early January, objecting to their treatment and the use of military aircraft. After being turned around mid-flight and spending a night in El Paso, Oquendo was finally repatriated to Colombia on a civilian aircraft sent by the Colombian government on January 28.
Sources
- Inside the ordeal of deported migrants as US and Colombia squared off
CNN·Jan 29, 2025·archived copy
CNN·Jan 29, 2025·archived copy
- Colombian air force plane carrying deportees from US lands
BBC·Jan 28, 2025·archived copy
- Deportation flights from the US to Colombia resume after a diplomatic spat
Associated Press·Jan 28, 2025·archived copy
- Colombia Resumes Reception Of U.S. Deportation Flights Ahead Of Petro's White House Visit
latintimes.com·Feb 2, 2026·archived copy
- Deportation flights from US to Colombia resume after diplomatic spat
business-standard.com·Jan 29, 2025·archived copy
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