Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has announced a sweeping crackdown on thousands of migrants residing in the country without proper permits.
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The far‑right president declared that he will implement substantial reforms to immigration policy, aiming to lower crime rates and combat criminal networks.
“I will not tolerate any undocumented immigrants, regardless of their origin,” de la Espriella said in a video posted on X during a security meeting in Barranquilla on Sunday night.
He clarified that the directive to immigration authorities is explicit: first target individuals committing crimes, then those whose status is irregular and who will be deported in due course.
At the Sunday meeting, the new president appeared to echo the “America First” rhetoric of former US President Donald Trump, with whom he maintains a close alliance.
“Colombians first, Colombians second, Colombians third — let that be understood by all,” De la Espriella asserted.
The president said deportation procedures will commence this week via a presidential order.
The crackdown primarily targets Venezuelans who have fled the nation’s repressive regime and economic turmoil over the past decade; roughly one‑fifth of Venezuela’s population has emigrated during this time.
Colombia hosts a substantial Venezuelan diaspora; the United Nations estimates that about 2.8 million Venezuelans reside in Colombia as of August, including more than 527,000 who are undocumented.
De La Espriella’s policy marks a sharp departure from Colombia’s earlier stance, which had aimed to welcome and protect Venezuelan migrants by providing a route to permanent residency.
In July, Colombia’s immigration service reported granting temporary residence permits to approximately 2.3 million undocumented Venezuelans.
Ana Karina García, director of Juntos Se Puede, an organization supporting Venezuelan migrants in Colombia, responded: “We understand the president’s desire to protect Colombians, but there is no justification for targeting migrants; studies show that foreigners do not commit crimes at higher rates.”
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