Colombians arriving in Miami will have to undergo a much more rigorous security process when entering the United States. This new control is the result of the recent diplomatic crisis that affected relations between the two countries. According to travelers, the additional procedures at Miami International Airport have caused discomfort and concern.
What happens upon arrival?
Passengers with Colombian passports must now go through four security filters before they can enter the country. This measure has been implemented due to the diplomatic tension between Colombia and the United States. Many Colombians who arrived in Miami have expressed feeling intimidated by the way they are treated.
One traveler expressed:
“The treatment we are receiving when we arrive at the airport is degrading.”
Tighter controls compared to other countries
After the diplomatic crisis, Colombians traveling to the United States have reported that their security controls are much more thorough compared to other passengers. Dozens of people arriving in Miami from Colombia spoke about having to go through very long and complicated immigration processes. This did not happen to travelers from other countries.
Some Colombians said that, whether they traveled alone or in groups, they were taken to small rooms, known as “cuarticos,” where immigration officers asked many questions and carried out extensive security checks.
What happens at other airports?
The situation was investigated by traveling to the Washington DC International Airport to verify the complaints of travelers. There, a woman who flew with Avianca from Bogotá commented:
“The whole flight went to a specific room and they started calling Americans first and then passengers from other nationalities.”
Interestingly, according to this woman, only passengers from the Avianca flight were sent for a second check:
“Only Avianca, the flight coming from Bogotá, was intimidating,” she added.
Different treatment on other flights
Other people also expressed surprise upon seeing immigration officers take them in groups for additional screening. One of them, for example, commented:
“I was surprised that after going through immigration, they sent us to the right side and we had another check.”
However, on flights from other airlines, such as Copa Airlines, which arrived from Panama, passengers were not subjected to the same additional screening. This has raised more questions and concern among Colombians arriving in Miami.
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