South American country criticises US for mistreating migrants

Colombia has suspended its repatriation program due to poor detention conditions and mistreatment of migrants, local authorities have said. The country expects to receive around 1,200 migrants back from the US between May 1 and 7 as part of a pilot plan to alleviate pressure on America’s southern border. Bogota also complained of the “cruel and degrading” treatment Colombians receive from the authorities before and during the flights. The pilot plan seeks to repatriate 1,200 Colombians before the expiration of Title 42, a controversial Trump-era order which allows the US to expel migrants from countries where a communicable disease is present. Human rights advocates have voiced concerns about US immigration policies. In April 2022, a Human Rights First report claimed that the administration of US President Joe Biden had put tens of thousands of migrants in jails in violation of international law, subjecting them to physical and psychological harm.