Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has ordered immigration raids and vowed to deport thousands of migrants without legal status, primarily Venezuelans, as part of a broader effort to curb crime. De la Espriella, who was sworn into office three weeks ago, announced the new policies on Sunday night, stating that law enforcement would first target migrants committing crimes and then those without regular status.
"I will not accept any illegal immigrants, wherever they come from," de la Espriella said in a video posted on his X account. "They will have to leave and be deported. It is a political decision I am taking responsibility for."
The majority of migrants in Colombia are from neighboring Venezuela, which has seen a significant portion of its population leave due to economic turmoil and a repressive regime. According to the United Nations, approximately 2.8 million Venezuelans were residing in Colombia as of August. A temporary residence permit program established in 2021 by the previous administration had granted permits to about 2.3 million Venezuelans.
De la Espriella's directive represents a shift for Colombia, which had previously focused on protecting and providing pathways to residency for Venezuelan migrants. Ana Karina García, director of Juntos Se Puede, an organization assisting Venezuelan migrants, noted that the government stopped issuing new temporary residency permits three years ago. She suggested that the new administration should focus on expanding legal residency options rather than punishing those unable to obtain them.
Arles Pereda, president of an association representing Venezuelans in Bogotá, expressed concern over the announcement, particularly as new groups of Venezuelans displaced by recent earthquakes have been arriving in Colombia seeking opportunities. He also noted a trend of increasing restrictions on Venezuelan migrants in other South American countries like Chile, Peru, and Ecuador.
Migracion Colombia, the national immigration agency, stated that it is currently without a director and will only implement the new policies once a director is appointed and installed.