BOGOTÁ — U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited Colombia on Thursday as part of a tour of three Latin American nations to discuss immigration, crime and deportation.
Her trip comes amid a souring in relations between the Trump administration and the Colombian government – long the United States’ closest ally in the region. Tensions between the two countries rose in January over accepting flights of immigrants deported from the U.S.
Noem sat down Thursday morning with Colombian Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia, and said they had a ‘’frank discussion and a candid discussion’’ about deportations, crime and immigration.
‘‘We’re committed to working hand-in-hand with our Colombian partners to enhance not only border security but also that we will support the enforcement of our criminal laws,‘’ Noem said.
Sarabia emphasized the importance of recognizing the ‘’human rights and dignity of migrants are actually respected.‘’
The officials also signed an agreement that would expand the sharing of biometric data for law enforcement.
Later in the day, Noem met with police and Colombia’s leftist President Gustavo Petro. The leaders discussed security, drug trafficking and repatriation of Colombians, according to Colombia’s presidential office, though few further details were shared about the meeting.
Petro and U.S. President Donald Trump, both populists, share diametrically opposed views over key issues like combating crime and the American government’s role in Latin America.
