2 months ago
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has promised to deport thousands of migrants who are in the country without residence permits, mainly Venezuelans, as he attempts to make significant changes to the nation's immigration policies that he says will reduce crime.
De la Espriella, who was sworn into office three weeks ago, said that he would order the country's national immigration service to conduct raids with Colombian police as early as this week. He announced the new policy in a video released on Sunday night in his X account where he spoke of multiple measures to reduce crime and confront criminal groups.
The ultra conservative leader, who is closely aligned with the U.S. President Donald Trump, said that law enforcement will first target migrants who are "committing crimes" and then, those who are living in the country without regular status.
"I will not accept any illegal immigrants, wherever they come from," de la Espriella said in the video. "They will have to leave and be deported. It is a political decision I am taking responsibility for."
Most migrants living in Colombia come from neighboring Venezuela, a nation that lost about a fifth of its population over the past decade as Venezuelans fled a repressive regime that oversaw years of economic turmoil, and a 75% contraction in the nation's GDP.
#without
De la Espriella, who was sworn into office three weeks ago, said that he would order the country's national immigration service to conduct raids with Colombian police as early as this week. He announced the new policy in a video released on Sunday night in his X account where he spoke of multiple measures to reduce crime and confront criminal groups.
The ultra conservative leader, who is closely aligned with the U.S. President Donald Trump, said that law enforcement will first target migrants who are "committing crimes" and then, those who are living in the country without regular status.
"I will not accept any illegal immigrants, wherever they come from," de la Espriella said in the video. "They will have to leave and be deported. It is a political decision I am taking responsibility for."
Most migrants living in Colombia come from neighboring Venezuela, a nation that lost about a fifth of its population over the past decade as Venezuelans fled a repressive regime that oversaw years of economic turmoil, and a 75% contraction in the nation's GDP.
#without
3 months ago
Lee este artículo en español
Emergency teams in Colombia are searching desperately for survivors of an earthquake that has killed at least 281 people as the crucial window for rescues drew to a close on Thursday, with the government still only accepting help from a handful of countries.
Nearly 380 people are still missing, Colombia's agency for disaster preparedness and response said Thursday, after the quake damaged homes, schools, bridges and airports across a large swathe of the country.
"Our main efforts are focused on the missing," said President Abelardo De la Espriella in a statement late Wednesday, calling for unity.
Monday's devastating earthquake, the worst to hit Colombia in decades, posed an early test for the newly inaugurated leader. His government has surprised some by turning down or limiting help from several countries in the region, after they offered immediate ***** istance following the 7.4 magnitude quake.
#still #Help #missing
Emergency teams in Colombia are searching desperately for survivors of an earthquake that has killed at least 281 people as the crucial window for rescues drew to a close on Thursday, with the government still only accepting help from a handful of countries.
Nearly 380 people are still missing, Colombia's agency for disaster preparedness and response said Thursday, after the quake damaged homes, schools, bridges and airports across a large swathe of the country.
"Our main efforts are focused on the missing," said President Abelardo De la Espriella in a statement late Wednesday, calling for unity.
Monday's devastating earthquake, the worst to hit Colombia in decades, posed an early test for the newly inaugurated leader. His government has surprised some by turning down or limiting help from several countries in the region, after they offered immediate ***** istance following the 7.4 magnitude quake.
#still #Help #missing
3 months ago
CALI, Colombia (AP) — A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 111 people, damaging hundreds of buildings and leaving many trapped under debris while their loved ones and rescue workers searched through rubble.
Search teams and civilians picked through the remains of destroyed buildings in the country's third-largest city, Cali, passing large pieces of concrete and other rubble down a long line of volunteers.
"Our building has basically been left in ruins, and the building next to ours? Completely collapsed," said Álvaro López, who cradled his dog as he watched the search. The desperate scene recalled the searches still ongoing in neighboring Venezuela weeks after that country was devastated by two powerful earthquakes.
Besides Cali, the quake ravaged cities across western Colombia, including Pereira, Quibdo and Manizales, and was felt in neighboring Ecuador and Panama. The epicenter was in San Jose Del Palmar, a community of about 4,800 people in the Choco region about 250 miles (400 kilometers) west of Bogota, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
Colombia's President Abelardo de la Espriella said at least 87 people were injured and around 1,600 buildings were damaged, including at least 61 that completely collapsed. He declared an emergency to expedite funding for the quake recovery while saying he would visit the disaster zone.
#colombia #search #western
Search teams and civilians picked through the remains of destroyed buildings in the country's third-largest city, Cali, passing large pieces of concrete and other rubble down a long line of volunteers.
"Our building has basically been left in ruins, and the building next to ours? Completely collapsed," said Álvaro López, who cradled his dog as he watched the search. The desperate scene recalled the searches still ongoing in neighboring Venezuela weeks after that country was devastated by two powerful earthquakes.
Besides Cali, the quake ravaged cities across western Colombia, including Pereira, Quibdo and Manizales, and was felt in neighboring Ecuador and Panama. The epicenter was in San Jose Del Palmar, a community of about 4,800 people in the Choco region about 250 miles (400 kilometers) west of Bogota, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
Colombia's President Abelardo de la Espriella said at least 87 people were injured and around 1,600 buildings were damaged, including at least 61 that completely collapsed. He declared an emergency to expedite funding for the quake recovery while saying he would visit the disaster zone.
#colombia #search #western
3 months ago
A harrowing video captured the moment a building collapsed as a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia early Monday, killing at least 111 people and injuring 87 others.
The video shows the building shaking and crumbling as onlookers scream before the structure ultimately gives way.
Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella declared a state of emergency as rescue crews searched collapsed buildings across several cities, according to Reuters.
"The national government has all of its capabilities deployed to protect lives, ******* ist affected communities and deliver aid wherever it is needed," De La Espriella said. "The first priority is rescuing the people trapped under the rubble."
Exclusive: Franklin Graham Visits Emergency Hospital Treating Venezuela Earthquake Victims
#espriella #earthquake #president
The video shows the building shaking and crumbling as onlookers scream before the structure ultimately gives way.
Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella declared a state of emergency as rescue crews searched collapsed buildings across several cities, according to Reuters.
"The national government has all of its capabilities deployed to protect lives, ******* ist affected communities and deliver aid wherever it is needed," De La Espriella said. "The first priority is rescuing the people trapped under the rubble."
Exclusive: Franklin Graham Visits Emergency Hospital Treating Venezuela Earthquake Victims
#espriella #earthquake #president
3 months ago
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella on Friday pledged to revive the country's oil and gas sector, restore state-owned energy company Ecopetrol and strengthen the electricity system, arguing that energy security would be a cornerstone of his administration.
Speaking during his inauguration, de la Espriella said Colombia would pursue an energy transition — a shift away from oil, gas and coal toward cleaner energy sources such as wind and solar power — but insisted it must not come at the expense of the country's oil and gas industry.
"I believe in the energy transition," he said. "But that transition must be built from strength, not from weakness, from self-sufficiency and not from dependence."
The remarks reinforce a sharp shift from former President Gustavo Petro, who stopped awarding new oil and gas exploration contracts while pushing Colombia toward renewable energy and making protection of the Amazon a centerpiece of his environmental agenda. Just four months ago, Petro's government hosted an international summit in the Caribbean city of Santa Marta aimed at building support for a global transition away from fossil fuels.
The commitments echo promises de la Espriella made throughout his presidential campaign, when he repeatedly vowed to expand oil and gas production and reverse key elements of Petro's energy policy.
#president
Speaking during his inauguration, de la Espriella said Colombia would pursue an energy transition — a shift away from oil, gas and coal toward cleaner energy sources such as wind and solar power — but insisted it must not come at the expense of the country's oil and gas industry.
"I believe in the energy transition," he said. "But that transition must be built from strength, not from weakness, from self-sufficiency and not from dependence."
The remarks reinforce a sharp shift from former President Gustavo Petro, who stopped awarding new oil and gas exploration contracts while pushing Colombia toward renewable energy and making protection of the Amazon a centerpiece of his environmental agenda. Just four months ago, Petro's government hosted an international summit in the Caribbean city of Santa Marta aimed at building support for a global transition away from fossil fuels.
The commitments echo promises de la Espriella made throughout his presidential campaign, when he repeatedly vowed to expand oil and gas production and reverse key elements of Petro's energy policy.
#president
4 months ago
In a closely contested presidential election in Colombia, controversial far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella emerged victorious. After an official recount, his opponent, left-wing senator Ivan Cepeda, conceded defeat. This was a hard-fought campaign which split the community, sparking much controversy across Colombia. While debate rages over De la Espriella's policies and ascension to power, it is clear his presidency will be a godsend for Colombia's beaten-down, economically critical oil industry.
After the closest election in Colombia's modern history, president-elect De la Espriella emerged victorious after a recount with a narrow margin of less than one percent. Considerable controversy surrounds his victory despite left-wing contender Ivan Cepeda conceding defeat after the recount by Colombia's electoral authority, the National Electoral Council (CNE). There are fears that De la Espriella will clamp down on law and order in such a radical manner that it will lead to widespread human rights violations and crimes.
Central to the president-elect's platform is his plan to revive Colombia's fiscally strained economy and achieve annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 7%. To pursue that goal, he is supported by Vice President José Manuel Restrepo Abondano, who served as Colombia's Minister of Finance and Public Credit from May 2021 to August 2022 under President Iván Duque. Alongside fiscal austerity aimed at bringing Colombia's ballooning fiscal deficit, expected to reach 7 to 8% of GDP, under control, De la Espriella plans to revive the economically vital oil industry.
A key factor behind Colombia's recent economic malaise is the collapse of the once-dominant hydrocarbon sector. Indeed, over the last decade, oil and natural gas production has declined sharply, sparking fears of an energy crisis, especially with costly liquified natural gas (LNG) imports spiraling ever higher. By April 2026, oil output of 724,910 barrels per day is well below the 915,087 barrels per day lifted for the same month 10 years earlier. Falling production and limited refining capacity are forcing Colombia to import considerably more diesel, mainly for agriculture and transport.
The marked drop in natural gas production poses a dire threat to the economy and the electricity grid. In April 2026, Colombia lifted 694 million cubic feet of natural gas per day, which is close to a multidecade low. It is also significantly less than the 1 billion cubic feet per day produced for the same period a month earlier. The widening supply gap between domestic demand and production forced Bogota, during December 2016, to start importing liquefied natural gas (LNG).
After the closest election in Colombia's modern history, president-elect De la Espriella emerged victorious after a recount with a narrow margin of less than one percent. Considerable controversy surrounds his victory despite left-wing contender Ivan Cepeda conceding defeat after the recount by Colombia's electoral authority, the National Electoral Council (CNE). There are fears that De la Espriella will clamp down on law and order in such a radical manner that it will lead to widespread human rights violations and crimes.
Central to the president-elect's platform is his plan to revive Colombia's fiscally strained economy and achieve annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 7%. To pursue that goal, he is supported by Vice President José Manuel Restrepo Abondano, who served as Colombia's Minister of Finance and Public Credit from May 2021 to August 2022 under President Iván Duque. Alongside fiscal austerity aimed at bringing Colombia's ballooning fiscal deficit, expected to reach 7 to 8% of GDP, under control, De la Espriella plans to revive the economically vital oil industry.
A key factor behind Colombia's recent economic malaise is the collapse of the once-dominant hydrocarbon sector. Indeed, over the last decade, oil and natural gas production has declined sharply, sparking fears of an energy crisis, especially with costly liquified natural gas (LNG) imports spiraling ever higher. By April 2026, oil output of 724,910 barrels per day is well below the 915,087 barrels per day lifted for the same month 10 years earlier. Falling production and limited refining capacity are forcing Colombia to import considerably more diesel, mainly for agriculture and transport.
The marked drop in natural gas production poses a dire threat to the economy and the electricity grid. In April 2026, Colombia lifted 694 million cubic feet of natural gas per day, which is close to a multidecade low. It is also significantly less than the 1 billion cubic feet per day produced for the same period a month earlier. The widening supply gap between domestic demand and production forced Bogota, during December 2016, to start importing liquefied natural gas (LNG).
