President Abelardo de la Espriella announced a deportation campaign during a security council meeting, with police operations set to begin within the week. The policy represents a significant shift from previous administrations’ approach of creating legal pathways for migrants. De la Espriella, a far-right political outsider who took office earlier this month, stated he would not tolerate undocumented immigrants and pledged to deport those committing crimes and those lacking regularized status.
The initiative primarily affects Venezuelans, who comprise approximately 95 percent of Colombia’s migrant population. An estimated 2.8 million Venezuelans currently reside in Colombia, the world’s largest Venezuelan migrant community. While roughly 2 million hold valid Temporary Protection Permits, approximately 500,000 lack authorization to remain, according to migration authorities. De la Espriella campaigned on tackling illegal immigration and has aligned himself with right-wing leaders, including US President Donald Trump.
Opposition figures have condemned the policy as discriminatory and xenophobic. Senator Ivan Cepeda, who narrowly lost the recent presidential election, criticized de la Espriella for targeting Latin American migrants while failing to protect Colombian deportees in the United States. Congresswoman Maria del Mar Pizarro questioned whether the campaign addresses security or merely reflects populism, noting that many deportees could simply return across the porous 2,200-kilometre border.
Venezuelan advocacy organizations and human rights experts have raised concerns about potential harm to vulnerable populations. Migrant advocates emphasize that irregular immigration status differs from criminality and warn that many deportees could face political persecution or economic hardship if returned to Venezuela, which has experienced severe economic deterioration and documented repressive practices. Experts note the deportation pilot programme, beginning in the coastal city of Barranquilla, signals a new era of anti-immigrant politics in Colombia.
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