A diplomatic victory over Colombia capped a busy week for the U.S. State Deptment below new Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who oversaw an company that rapidly made border safety and immigration a prime precedence — racking up a flurry of actions within the area of per week.
After Colombian President Gustavo Petro refused to take U.S. deportation flights carrying Colombian nationals on Sunday, Rubio introduced the speedy suspension of the issuing of visas within the nation, in addition to journey sanctions on authorities officers.
“Measures will continue until Colombia meets its obligations to accept the return of its own citizens,” Rubio mentioned. “America will not back down when it comes to defending its national security interests.”
RUBIO PAUSES FOREIGN AID FROM STATE DEPARTMENT AND USAID TO ENSURE IT PUTS ‘AMERICA FIRST’
Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks after being sworn in by Vice President JD Vance in the Vice Presidential Ceremonial Office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Within hours, Colombia had backed down and agreed to what the White House said were the terms provided by President Donald Trump. However, the administration said that visa sanctions would remain in effect until the deportations were received.
The diplomatic clash was a strong finish to what has been an immigration-focused week for not only the administration as a whole, but also the State Department. The agency was involved in multiple instructions and moves on visa issuance, migration and funding to foreign organizations.
On Rubio’s first day in workplace, the division instructed consular officers to place nationwide safety first when reviewing visas and ordered the division to implement enhanced vetting for visa purposes from nations the place there are considerations a few heightened nationwide safety danger.
NEW SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO PAUSES REFUGEE OPERATIONS, RAMPS UP VISA VETTING
He would later go on to declare the administration’s priorities, which centered on ending mass migration and ramping up border safety as prime priorities.
Migrants who have been deported from the U.S. stand on El Chaparral pedestrian border bridge in Tijuana, Mexico, late Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (AP Photograph/Felix Marquez)
“First, we must curb mass migration and secure our borders. The State Department will no longer undertake any activities that facilitate or encourage mass migration,” Rubio mentioned. “Our diplomatic relations with other countries, particularly in the Western Hemisphere, will prioritize securing America’s borders, stopping illegal and destabilizing migration, and negotiating the repatriation of illegal immigrants.”
Individually, a senior State Division official instructed Fox Information Digital {that a} worldwide cable clarified that officers should resist pressures to hurry up visa or passport processing on the expense of safety considerations.
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The State Division then additionally paused all new obligations of funding for overseas assist packages by both the State Dept. or U.S. Company for Worldwide Improvement. There are longstanding considerations by conservatives that these packages can exacerbate mass migration.
On refugee admissions, the division suspended the Refugee Admissions Program — in response to an govt order by President Trump. It additionally issued a worldwide alert asserting the upcoming adjustments to birthright citizenship in response to a different Trump order.
Since then, the division has labored with different companies on border safety and the implementation of the birthright citizenship order, together with working to cancel a inexperienced card for a Moroccan terrorist, the official mentioned.
That cooperation was on show on Sunday when a number of companies labored collectively to take care of the disagreement with Colombia.
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“As demonstrated by today’s actions, we are unwavering in our commitment to end illegal immigration and bolster America’s border security,” Rubio mentioned.
Fox Information’ Julia Johnson contributed to this report.
