Colombia’s new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, has ordered a crackdown on irregular immigrants and criminals, with operations to begin this week.
Colombia’s newly elected president, Abelardo de la Espriella, has ordered a crackdown on irregular immigrants, instructing authorities to detain and deport those in the country without proper documentation or who have committed crimes. The far-right leader, who has been in office for just over two weeks, made the announcement during a cabinet meeting in Barranquilla, echoing the 'Americans first' rhetoric of US President Donald Trump by stating 'Colombians first, Colombians second and Colombians third.' The operations, which involve the police and migration authorities, are expected to begin 'this very week.'
The policy has drawn criticism from opposition figures and human rights activists, who argue it shifts from a long-standing migration policy that benefited migrants, particularly from Venezuela. Of the 2.8 million Venezuelans in Colombia, about 848,000 are in an irregular situation, including 193,000 children and adolescents. The president did not directly mention Venezuelans in his announcement, but they make up the majority of migrants in the country. Critics have raised concerns about the feasibility of the plan, noting that the migration department may lack the necessary resources to carry out the operations as promised.
Why it matters
Colombia's far-right president orders detention and deportation of irregular immigrants, but the institutional structure does not by itself establish that a particular emergency response succeeded, failed, or was overwhelmed.
This section reflects Dumpling editorial interpretation and is provided for context only.
What to watch
Watch for a national disaster declaration or return-to-normal decision in subsequent official updates.
This section reflects Dumpling editorial interpretation and is provided for context only.