Colombia’s new right-wing President, Abelardo de la Espriella, has ordered an immigration crackdown targeting undocumented foreigners, beginning with those convicted of crimes.
De la Espriella said immigration authorities would begin detaining undocumented migrants involved in criminal activities, with deportation procedures expected to start this week under a presidential directive.
The hardline lawyer, who assumed office on August 7 after campaigning on promises to tackle crime and drug-trafficking guerrillas, announced the policy during a security meeting in Barranquilla.
“I will not accept illegal migrants, no matter where they come from,” De la Espriella said.
“The order to Immigration authorities is clear: first those who are committing crimes, second those who have not regularized their status and who will have to be deported in due course.”
The president said his government would prioritise the deportation of undocumented foreigners convicted of crimes before extending enforcement to others who have not regularised their immigration status.
Millions of Venezuelans Living in Colombia
Colombia has become the main destination for Venezuelans fleeing the economic crisis in their country over the past decade.
According to Colombia’s immigration department, about 2.8 million Venezuelans were living in Colombia as of June, including more than 527,000 undocumented migrants.
Immigration was not a central issue during De la Espriella’s election campaign. However, his latest comments signal a tougher approach to undocumented migration.
Previous right-wing governments in Colombia had generally adopted a more tolerant stance towards Venezuelan migrants, viewing many of them as victims of the socialist governments of former Venezuelan leaders Nicolas Maduro and Hugo Chavez.
Before the Venezuelan migration crisis, Colombia was primarily a country of emigration, with decades of armed conflict forcing millions of Colombians to leave the country, including many who settled in neighbouring Venezuela.
In his first days in office, which coincided with a powerful earthquake that killed more than 300 people in western Colombia, De la Espriella presented himself as a unifying figure.
However, his immigration policy has drawn comparisons with the “America First” agenda championed by US President Donald Trump.
“Colombians first, Colombians second, Colombians third, may that be clear to everyone,” De la Espriella said.
Opposition Condemns Deportation Plan
The president’s announcement has triggered sharp reactions from political opponents and activists.
Left-wing senator and activist Maria Jose Pizarro accused De la Espriella of proposing “a Colombian ICE” and described the planned deportations as “pure xenophobia and hatred of the poor.”
“Migration is not a crime, it’s a human right,” she said, adding that “behind every migrant is a story of survival.”
Public reaction has also been divided.
While some Colombians welcomed the crackdown and linked migrants, particularly Venezuelans, to rising crime, others defended the migrant community and pointed to its contribution to the Colombian economy.
De la Espriella’s policy comes amid a broader shift towards right-wing politics across parts of Latin America, where concerns about violent crime and the activities of Venezuelan criminal gangs have become increasingly influential in elections.
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