Newly inaugurated Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has announced sweeping immigration raids and mass deportations targeting undocumented migrants — primarily Venezuelans — marking a dramatic reversal of Colombia's long-standing open-door policy toward its neighbours.
Just three weeks after taking office, Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has announced a major crackdown on undocumented migrants, ordering immigration raids and police operations across the country beginning this week. In a video statement released via his X account, the conservative leader — who has aligned himself closely with US President Donald Trump — declared that migrants without legal residency permits would be targeted for removal. "I will not accept any illegal immigrants, wherever they come from," de la Espriella stated. "They will have to leave and be deported. It is a political decision I am taking responsibility for." The policy will first target migrants accused of criminal activity, before expanding to all those living in the country without regular status.
The announcement represents a stunning reversal of Colombia's approach to the Venezuelan migration crisis. For years, the nation served as the primary refuge for Venezuelans fleeing economic collapse and political repression, with the government granting temporary protection and residency pathways to millions. The United Nations estimates that approximately 2.8 million Venezuelans currently reside in Colombia, making it home to the largest Venezuelan diaspora in the world. Roughly 2.3 million of them have received temporary residency permits issued under a 2021 programme, but hundreds of thousands remain without formal status.
Human rights organisations and migrant advocates have strongly criticised the new measures. Ana Karina García, director of the NGO Juntos Se Puede, pointed out that research consistently shows migrants do not commit crimes at higher rates than the local population. "We understand that the president wants to protect Colombians," she said, "but there is no need to protect them from migrants." Arles Pereda, president of a Venezuelan association in Bogotá, warned that the timing is particularly cruel, as new waves of Venezuelan refugees — displaced by the devastating June earthquakes — continue to arrive seeking safety. He noted that Colombia is not alone: Chile, Peru, and Ecuador have all similarly tightened residency requirements, leaving Venezuelan migrants with shrinking options across the region. Colombia's immigration agency, Migración Colombia, noted that it currently lacks a permanent director and that implementation will begin only once new leadership is in place.
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