Full Breakdown
Colombia’s New President Orders Nationwide Raids to Deport Irregular Migrants
8/26/2026, 6:13:54 AM
Immigration Crackdown Announced
President Abelardo de la Espriella—a former lawyer who took office on August 7—declared that police and the national immigration service will begin coordinated operations “this week” to locate and deport migrants who are either involved in crime or lack regularized status. President Donald Trump.
Policy Shift After Earthquake
The announcement came just days after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake on August 10 that killed more than 300 people and left tens of thousands homeless. De la Espriella framed the immigration measures as part of a broader “iron-fist” security agenda aimed at reducing crime, drug trafficking, illegal mining, extortion and smuggling. The president has positioned himself alongside other right-leaning leaders in the region, such as Argentina’s Javier Milei and Chile’s José Antonio Kast, who have similarly tightened migration rules.
Migrant Population and Legal Status
- Venezuelan diaspora: Approximately 2.8 million Venezuelans reside in Colombia, accounting for roughly 90 % of the country’s foreign-born population (United Nations, AP).
- Irregular status: The Guardian reports 848,000 Venezuelans are in an irregular situation, including 193,000 children and adolescents. Euronews and other outlets cite over 527,000 undocumented migrants.
- Temporary permits: In July, Colombia’s immigration service announced that about 2.3 million Venezuelans had received temporary residence permits under a program launched in 2021 by former President Iván Duque.
Government Rationale and Planned Operations
De la Espriella argues that targeting irregular migrants will “reduce crime” and “confront criminal groups.” He presented the policy as a “political decision” he is personally responsible for. The president’s office indicated that the first joint police-immigration raids will be conducted in Barranquilla, with the expectation that deportations begin within days. A text message from Migración Colombia noted that the agency currently lacks a director and will postpone full implementation until a new director is appointed.
Opposition and Human-Rights Concerns
Left-wing legislators and civil-society groups have condemned the plan. Senator María José Pizarro Rodríguez called the order “pure xenophobia and aporophobia,” questioning whether the president is proposing a “Colombian ICE.” Congresswoman María Fernanda Carrascal (Historic Pact) labeled the measure an “affront to human rights” that links irregular status to criminality without evidence.
Human-rights advocates stress that Colombian law distinguishes “irregular” migrants from “illegal” immigrants; the term “illegal” is not a legal category. Analysts note that the migration agency may lack sufficient staff to execute the operations, raising doubts about feasibility.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The doors seem to be closing,” — Arles Pereda, president of an association representing Venezuelans in Bogotá
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Terminology: The president repeatedly uses “illegal immigrants,” while Colombian law defines migrants in an “irregular” situation, not a criminal status.
- Numbers: Sources differ on the count of undocumented migrants—848,000 irregular (Guardian) versus over 527,000 undocumented. Both figures are cited without a unified official tally.
- Operational capacity: Migration officials acknowledge a staffing shortfall and the absence of a department director, but no timeline has been provided for addressing these gaps.
Implementation Timeline
The president’s decree mandates that joint police-immigration operations commence “this week” in Barranquilla, with deportations to follow. No specific deadline beyond that initial week has been announced, and the rollout will depend on the appointment of a new director for Migración Colombia.
