Colombia’s new president faces backlash over ‘inhumane’ deportation policy

Less than a month into his presidency, Abelardo de la Espriella has announced an effort to expel undocumented immigrants. Bogota, Colombia – Opposition politicians and migrant communities in Colombia have decried President Abelardo de la Espriella’s plan to launch a deportation campaign against foreign nationals living irregularly in the country. De la Espriella unveiled the crackdown during a security council meeting on Sunday, ordering police to begin operations as soon as this week. The policy is expected to primarily affect Venezuelans, by far the largest migrant population in Colombia. It marks a stark departure from measures under previous administrations, which largely sought to create legal immigration pathways for those fleeing hardship in neighbouring Venezuela. “I will not accept any illegal immigrants, wherever they come from,” said de la Espriella in a video shared on the social media platform X on Sunday evening. “They will have to leave and be deported.

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