Colombia's new president orders raids and mass deportations of undocumented migrants

Three weeks into his term, President Abelardo de la Espriella used a video on X to declare that Colombian police and the national immigration service will launch raids as early as this week to identify migrants without residence permits and deport them, starting with those accused of crimes. He emphasized that no illegal immigrant will be tolerated, linking the initiative to broader efforts to curb crime. The directive primarily targets Venezuelan nationals, of whom about 2.8 million reside in Colombia, many under temporary permits issued during the 2021 crisis.

Critics, including the NGO Juntos Se Puede and the Venezuelan community association in Bogotá, argue the policy abandons previous humanitarian protections and could affect new arrivals fleeing the June earthquakes. The immigration agency, Migracion Colombia, disclosed it currently has no director and will postpone full implementation until a new leader is installed. The move aligns the administration with other conservative governments in the region that have tightened residency rules.