The US and Columbia have agreed to partner with the deployment of biometric capabilities to help authorities manage migration and halt criminal activity.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Christi Noem met with Colombian Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia in Bogota on Thursday. There, the two signed an agreement to harness biometric capabilities.
“Today, we have signed a statement of intent to biometric cooperation, which will reaffirm our strong and resilient, lasting partnership,” Noem said after signing the contract.
The agreement comes months after President Donald Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro clashed over the treatment of Colombians in deportation from the US.
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U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Christa Noem will meet with Foreign Minister Laura Saravia, Foreign Minister of Colombia in Bogota, Colombia on March 27, 2025. (Alex Brandon/Pool via Reuters)
In January, US authorities sent two flights of Colombian illegal aliens back to their country of origin, but Petro refused the flight, saying, “We cannot treat Colombian immigrants as criminals.”
Peter also called for the United States to establish protocols for the dignified treatment of immigrants.
In response, Trump threatened to release numerous penalties, including ordering a 25% tariff on all goods coming into the US from Columbia. A week later, Trump added, adding that tariffs would rise to 50%. Trump also ordered all Colombian government officials to travel bans and revoke their visas, as well as “allies and supporters.”
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Colombian Foreign Minister Laura Saravia will hold a joint press conference with U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Christie Noem on March 27, 2025, after signing the biometric data sharing intentions in Bogota, Colombia. (Alex Brandon/Pool via Reuters)
Eventually, the two countries reached an agreement and deportation resumed, but Peter urged Colombian immigrants to return home.
Noem acknowledged Colombia’s efforts to resume repatriation of immigrants, adding that sharing biometric data will be more efficient with cooperation between the US and Colombia.
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South Dakota Governor Christy Noem is watching the launch of the Senate’s Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, appointed Secretary of Homeland Security at Capitol Hill, Washington, DC on January 17, 2025 (Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP: Photo by Getty Images) (Getty)
“We will strengthen our local security systems, perpetuate illegal activities and disrupt the movement of threatening people to promote illegal trafficking of immigrants throughout the Western Hemisphere,” she said. “Through this expansion of biometric data sharing, it will also build cooperation that opens the door to new ways to become far more efficient, effective, accurate and continue to collaborate.”
The memorandum signed by both Noem and Sarabia said it aims to enhance the sharing of immigration information, and the latter also ensures that it respects the dignity and rights of immigrants.
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Gnome was also expected to meet Peter during her visit.
Andrea Margolis and Landon Mion of Fox News Digital, and Reuters contributed to this report.
