Following the escalating diplomatic row with the United States, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced Sunday that his government is sending the country’s presidential plane to Honduras to repatriate Colombian nationals who were originally scheduled to arrive via U.

Colombia welcomed its first flights of deported illegal immigrants with its president heralding their return and insisting they are not criminals.

President Donald Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro defended their views on social media and imposed tariffs on each other’s goods.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced that Colombia was suspending permission for previously authorized U.S. deportation flights to land in Colombia. Ostensibly driving Petro’s action were concerns that Colombian nationals were not being treated with respect during the deportation process because they were being transported by military aircraft.

The country’s leader, Gustavo Petro, backed down after a clash with President Trump, which started when Mr. Petro turned back U.S. military planes carrying deportees.