Colombia Orders Nationwide Immigration Raids and Deportations

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has ordered nationwide immigration raids and pledged to deport thousands of migrants living in the country without legal status, marking a significant shift in the nation's long-standing policy toward Venezuelan migration. The directive, announced during a security council meeting in Barranquilla on August 24, 2026, instructs the national immigration service to coordinate with police to identify and remove foreigners who are either committing crimes or lack regularized residency.

De la Espriella, who was sworn into office on August 7, stated that operations would begin as early as this week. "I will not accept illegal immigrants, wherever they come from," he said in a video of the meeting. "They will have to leave and be deported. It is a political decision I am taking responsibility for." The president specified that enforcement would first target migrants involved in criminal activities, followed by those without proper documentation.

The policy represents a major reversal for Colombia, which had previously been a regional leader in integrating Venezuelan migrants. According to the United Nations, approximately 2.8 million...