New Colombian president announces anti-migrant crackdown

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has announced that he will deport thousands of migrants who do not have legal residence permits, primarily Venezuelans, as part of his plan to reduce crime. This decision comes as he assumes office three weeks ago and was previously announced in a video on his X account. De la Espriella, known for his ultra-conservative views, aligns closely with the U.S. President Donald Trump and vowed to order the national immigration service to conduct raids with Colombian police starting this week.

The ultra-conservative leader emphasized that law enforcement will target migrants committing crimes first, followed by those living illegally in the country. Colombia is home to a large Venezuelan diaspora, with around 2.8 million Venezuelans living in the country as of August, making it the largest Venezuelan community outside of Venezuela.

However, the Colombian government stopped issuing new temporary residence permits three years ago, according to Ana Karina García, director of Juntos Se Puede, an organization supporting Venezuelan migrants in Colombia. The incoming administration's move to deport migrants without regular status represents a significant shift in Colombia's immigration policies, which have historically focused on protecting incoming Venezuelans and facilitating their integration.

Critics, such as Arles Pereda, president of an association representing Venezuelans in Bogota, expressed concern over the new policy, particularly in light of recent earthquakes that displaced additional groups of Venezuelans seeking opportunities in Colombia. The national immigration department, Migracion Colombia, currently lacks a director, and the agency stated that it will only enforce the new policies once a new director is appointed and installed.