The Unitary Central of Workers (CUT) launched an emergency call for this Thursday, January 15, summoning thousands of protesters in the main squares of the country.

The trigger for this mobilization, described by union leaders as a day “in defense of sovereignty,” was the recent announcement by Donald Trump’s government to suspend the issuance of visas for Colombians, under the controversial argument of avoiding “public charges” in its territory.

In the capital of the Republic, the critical point of the day will be the United States Embassy (Calle 24 Bis #48-50), where the Unitary Central of Workers hopes to gather its bases starting at 3:00 pm

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The labor union assures that the measure adopted by the White House is a “gringo interference” that threatens national dignity and the mobility rights of citizens.

Social unrest erupts just after a State Department memo was leaked that includes Colombia on a “blacklist” of 75 countries that are prohibited from processing immigrant visas.

According to the Trump administration, nationals of these countries take advantage of social assistance at “unacceptable” levels. While the authorities in Bogotá try to manage the crisis through diplomatic channels, the Unitary Central of Workers warned that it will not allow the Colombian people to be stigmatized and that public squares will remain in permanent assembly until democracy and the country’s autonomy are respected in the face of Washington’s decisions.

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