President Donald Trump on Monday said that he will impose a secondary tariff of 25% on countries that import oil and gas from Venezuela and trade with the United States, which will go into effect early next month.

The secondary tariff comes as the White House seeks to add pressure on Venezuela over its response to the U.S. immigration crisis, and as the U.S. works to send illegal Venezuelan migrants back home.

The president accused Venezuela of "purposefully and deceitfully" sending "tens of thousands of high level, and other, criminals, many of whom are murderers and people of a very violent nature," to the U.S.

"Venezuela has been very hostile to the United States and the Freedoms which we espouse," he said in a post on Truth Social. "Therefore, any Country that purchases Oil and/or Gas from Venezuela will be forced to pay a Tariff of 25% to the United States on any Trade they do with our Country."

Trump said the tariffs will go into effect on April 2, 2025, which is the same day that other tariffs are expected to be enforced. 

The president has also been using tariffs against the neighboring nations of Canada and Mexico to encourage cooperation with the United States.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.