Key facts
- Colombia's President Abelardo de la Espriella ordered a crackdown on irregular immigrants and criminals.
- Authorities are directed to detain and deport individuals without regularized status.
- The president declared gangs involved in drug trafficking, illegal mining, extortion, and smuggling as "terrorists."
- The new policy faces criticism from opposition figures and human rights activists.
- Venezuelans comprise approximately 90% of migrants in Colombia.
Colombia's new far-right president, Abelardo de la Espriella, has announced a significant crackdown on immigrants, ordering authorities to detain and deport those in the country irregularly or who have committed crimes. The announcement, made just over two weeks into his presidency, comes as Colombia continues to deal with the aftermath of a major earthquake.
De la Espriella stated that joint operations involving the police and migration authority would commence this week, targeting individuals who are either committing crimes or have not regularized their status. He invoked a "Colombians first" sentiment, mirroring rhetoric used by his ally, U.S. President Donald Trump. This move aligns de la Espriella with other right-wing leaders in the region, such as Argentina's Javier Milei and Chile's José Antonio Kast, who have also implemented stricter migration policies.
The president also declared all gangs involved in drug trafficking, illegal mining, extortion, and smuggling as "terrorists" to be dealt with by "reason or by force." While not explicitly mentioning Venezuelans, they constitute approximately 90% of migrants in Colombia, with a substantial number in irregular situations.
The new immigration policy is facing strong opposition from critics, including Senator María José Pizarro Rodríguez, who likened the proposed actions to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and labeled the deportation order as "xenophobia and aporophobia." Human rights activists and the opposition argue that this policy dismantles a decade-long approach that benefited migrants fleeing the crisis in Venezuela. Reports suggest the migration department may lack sufficient staff to implement the promised operations, and legal experts note that Colombian law recognizes migrants as being in an "irregular" situation, not "illegal."