Colombia’s new president faces backlash over ‘inhumane’ deportation policy
Bogota, Colombia – Opposition politicians and migrant communities in Colombia have decried President Abelardo de la Espriella’s plan to launch a deportation campaign against foreign nationals living irregularly in the country. De la Espriella unveiled the crackdown during a security council meeting on Sunday, ordering police to begin operations as soon as this week.
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Key Facts
- Fact 1: While de la Espriella did not address any specific nationalities, some 95 percent of Colombia’s migrant population are Venezuelan, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an intergovernmental group.
- Fact 2: Approximately 2.8 million Venezuelans reside in Colombia, making it home to the largest Venezuelan migrant community in the world.
- Fact 3: While nearly 2 million have a Temporary Protection Permit (PPT) authorising them to live in the country, an estimated 500,000 lack permission to be in Colombia, according to migration authorities.
- Fact 4: “But persecuting and deporting someone — simply because their immigration status is not in order — is populism, not security.” Given the porous nature of the roughly 2,200-kilometre (1,370-mile) land border between the two countries, Pizarro added that there is little to stop deported Venezuelans from returning to Colombia.
Bogota, Colombia – Opposition politicians and migrant communities in Colombia have decried President Abelardo de la Espriella’s plan to launch a deportation campaign against foreign nationals living irregularly in the country. De la Espriella unveiled the crackdown during a security council meeting on Sunday, ordering police to begin operations as soon as this week.
Colombia minister warns of ‘terrorism’ threat at presidential inauguration De la Espriella sworn in as Colombia’s leader, vows armed group crackdown As rubble clears, Colombia begins focusing on recovery after the earthquake The policy is expected to primarily affect Venezuelans, by far the largest migrant population in Colombia. It marks a stark departure from measures under previous administrations, which largely sought to create legal immigration pathways for those fleeing hardship in neighbouring Venezuela. “I will not accept any illegal immigrants, wherever they come from,” said de la Espriella in a video shared on the social media platform X on Sunday evening.
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