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.
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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
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