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Rubio’s State Dept caps migration-heavy 1st week with Colombia deportation win: ‘America won’t again down’


A diplomatic victory over Colombia capped a busy week for the U.S. State Deptment underneath new Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who oversaw an company that shortly made border safety and immigration a prime precedence — racking up a flurry of actions within the house of every week.

After Colombian President Gustavo Petro refused to take U.S. deportation flights carrying Colombian nationals on Sunday, Rubio introduced the fast suspension of the issuing of visas within the nation, in addition to journey sanctions on authorities officers.

“Measures will proceed till Colombia meets its obligations to simply accept the return of its personal residents,” Rubio stated. “America won’t again down with regards to defending its nationwide safety pursuits.”

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 within the Vice Presidential Ceremonial Office within 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 stated have been the phrases supplied by President Donald Trump. However, the administration stated that visa sanctions would stay in impact till the deportations have been acquired.

The diplomatic conflict was a robust end to what has been an immigration-focused week for not solely the administration as a complete, but in addition the State Department. The company was concerned in a number of directions and strikes on visa issuance, migration and funding to international 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 international locations the place there are considerations a few heightened nationwide safety threat.

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 targeted on ending mass migration and ramping up border safety as prime priorities.

Migrants lined up in Mexico

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 Photo/Felix Marquez)

“First, we should curb mass migration and safe our borders. The State Department will now not undertake any actions that facilitate or encourage mass migration,” Rubio stated.  “Our diplomatic relations with different international locations, significantly within the Western Hemisphere, will prioritize securing America’s borders, stopping unlawful and destabilizing migration, and negotiating the repatriation of unlawful immigrants.”

Separately, a senior State Department official instructed Fox News 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 Department then additionally paused all new obligations of funding for international help packages by both the State Dept. or U.S. Agency for International Development. 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 stated.

That cooperation was on show on Sunday when a number of companies labored collectively to cope with the disagreement with Colombia.

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“As demonstrated by in the present day’s actions, we’re unwavering in our dedication to finish unlawful immigration and bolster America’s border safety,” Rubio stated.

Fox News’ Julia Johnson contributed to this report.



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Written by EGN NEWS DESK

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