BOGOTA, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who recently reversed a decision to turn away U.S. military planes carrying undocumented migrants, has urged migrants to return home promptly and "build social wealth."
Petro, Colombia's first leftist president elected in 2022, has proposed providing loans to returning migrants to support them in starting their own businesses.
In a message posted on Friday, Petro urged undocumented Colombians in the U.S. to return promptly, stating, "Let's build social wealth in Colombia."
He mentioned that Colombia's Department of Social Prosperity would offer loans to those who choose to return.
Following Colombia's refusal to accept military flights carrying deportees, and subsequent sanctions from U.S. President Donald Trump, Petro swiftly reversed his decision and agreed to take in the migrants.
Although Petro did not elaborate on the loan specifics in his post, the department typically offers small loans tailored for income-generating activities that help combat poverty.
As per the Pew Research Center, an estimated 200,000 undocumented Colombians live in the U.S., while Colombia's population totals approximately 53 million.
Petro's call for Colombians potentially affected by Trump's strict crackdown on unauthorized U.S. migrants to come back home has sparked various reactions online, with some showing support and others criticizing Petro.
One response, among nearly 10,000 comments on the president's post, suggested focusing on supporting young professionals in Colombia who are struggling to find employment, stating, "First help those who are here."