Archive · 25 Aug 2026
Colombia First Crackdown Targets Undocumented Venezuelan Migrants for Deportation
Colombia’s president wants to make immigration enforcement stricter.
He says police should first find migrants who are committing crimes.
After that, officials would look for migrants who do not have regular legal status.
Many of the people affected could be Venezuelans.
About 2.8 million Venezuelans live in Colombia.
Earlier governments helped more than two million Venezuelans receive temporary residence permits.
Migrant advocates say the government should create more ways to obtain legal residency instead of deporting people.
The immigration agency says the new rules cannot be carried out until a new director is appointed.
The president says the policy is meant to reduce crime and put Colombians first.
President Abelardo de la Espriella ordered immigration raids and deportations as part of a security crackdown.
Police and Colombia’s immigration service could begin operations as early as this week.
Authorities plan to target migrants accused of crimes before those without regular immigration status.
About 2.8 million Venezuelans live in Colombia, while more than two million received temporary permits under a 2021 program.
Migrants’ advocates oppose the policy, while Migración Colombia says implementation awaits the appointment of a new director.
- Who
- Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, Colombian police, Migración Colombia, and migrants—mainly Venezuelans.
- What
- The government announced immigration raids and promised deportations of migrants without regular legal status, beginning with those accused of crimes.
- When
- The policy was announced in a video released Sunday night and during a weekend security meeting; operations could begin as early as this week, although implementation awaits a new immigration-agency director.
- Where
- The policy concerns Colombia, with the security meeting held in Barranquilla and Venezuelan migrant communities including Bogotá.
- Why
- De la Espriella says the measures will reduce crime, confront criminal groups, and put Colombians first.
Government Enforcement Position
Migrant Advocates’ Concerns
Immigration enforcement
Government Enforcement Position
De la Espriella says migrants who commit crimes should be targeted first, followed by people without regular status, and that undocumented migrants should leave and be deported.
Migrant Advocates’ Concerns
Advocates say people unable to obtain residence permits should not be punished and that the government should expand pathways to legal residency.
Migration and public safety
Government Enforcement Position
The president links tougher immigration enforcement to reducing crime and protecting Colombians.
Migrant Advocates’ Concerns
Ana Karina García of Juntos Se Puede said foreigners have not been shown to commit crimes at higher rates than the local population.
Effect on Venezuelans
Government Enforcement Position
The government says the policy applies to migrants regardless of their origin, rather than targeting only Venezuelans.
Migrant Advocates’ Concerns
Arles Pereda, who represents Venezuelans in Bogotá, said the announcement worried migrants, including new arrivals seeking opportunities after June earthquakes in Venezuela.
- Potentially affected population
- More than 500,000 Venezuelans were reported to lack regular migration status in Colombia, according to migration-agency data cited by Bloomberg.
- Venezuelans in Colombia
- Around 2.8 million Venezuelans were living in Colombia as of August, according to the United Nations.
- Planned enforcement order
- Authorities said they would first target migrants accused of committing crimes, followed by those without regular status.
- Possible start
- Police and immigration operations could begin as early as this week.
- Previous regularization program
- A temporary-protection scheme introduced in 2021 granted permits to about 2.3 million Venezuelans, according to Colombia’s immigration service.
- Implementation condition
- Migración Colombia said the new policies will be implemented only after a new director is appointed and installed.
- Policy rationale
- De la Espriella presented the crackdown as part of measures to reduce crime and confront criminal groups.
