Key facts
- Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella ordered raids and deportations of irregular immigrants.
- The policy primarily targets Venezuelan migrants, with an emphasis on those committing crimes.
- The order has caused uncertainty among Venezuelan residents in Colombia, particularly those without regularized status.
- Colombia hosts 2.8 million Venezuelan migrants, with over 527,000 lacking proper immigration compliance.
- Migrant advocates are calling for the reopening of regularization processes and dispute links between crime and migration.
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has ordered raids and deportations of irregular immigrants, a move that has generated significant uncertainty among the Venezuelan population residing in the country, particularly those without regularized status. The president announced coordinated operations with police to identify and deport individuals who are not in compliance with immigration laws, especially those involved in criminal activities.
This directive marks a potential shift from previous policies that allowed for temporary residency permits. Venezuelan migrants and advocacy groups have expressed deep concern, with many individuals seeking to understand their options. César González, a Venezuelan migratory lawyer in Colombia, noted the widespread worry and the high volume of calls received from people seeking guidance.
Colombia is the largest host country for the Venezuelan diaspora, with approximately 2.8 million migrants. Official figures indicate that over 527,000 Venezuelans are in Colombia without meeting immigration requirements. Ronal Rodríguez, from the University of Rosario's Observatory of Venezuelan Migration, highlighted the extensive and irregular border between Colombia and Venezuela, suggesting that the Colombian state may lack the capacity for widespread deportations.
Migrant advocacy groups are urging the government to reopen regularization processes, as the temporary protection statute has been closed for over three years. They emphasize that many minors are in irregular status and require special protection. Concerns have also been raised about a potential increase in xenophobia, with advocates asserting that crime statistics do not correlate with migrant populations. The situation is compounded by similar restrictive migration policies being implemented in other South American countries.