World News
Colombian president orders immigration raids and pledges deportations
President Abelardo de la Espriella announced plans to deport undocumented migrants, primarily targeting Venezuelans, in a major shift from previous immigration policies.
The short version
- Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella announced upcoming immigration raids aimed at deporting migrants without legal status, prioritizing those involved in crime.
- The policy marks a significant shift away from Colombia's long-standing effort to provide residency pathways to millions of fleeing Venezuelans.
- Implementation depends on appointing a new head of Migración Colombia, the agency tasked with executing the directive.
Key facts
- Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella announced plans to conduct immigration raids with police and deport migrants without valid residence permits.[Associated Press]
- The enforcement actions will initially target migrants committing crimes before expanding to those residing in Colombia without legal status.[Associated Press]
- According to United Nations figures, approximately 2.8 million Venezuelans lived in Colombia as of August.[Associated Press]
- Migración Colombia stated it currently lacks a director and will delay executing the new measures until an agency head is officially installed.[Associated Press]
What remains uncertain
- It is unclear precisely when raids will begin, as the immigration agency must first appoint a new director.[Associated Press]