Colombia’s immigration authority, Migración Colombia, has stepped up enforcement operations over the past two weeks, targeting foreign nationals with repeated legal infractions while also pushing to help Venezuelan migrants regularize their status in the country.
According to the agency, led by retired Police Lieutenant Colonel José Luis Castañeda Tiria, the strategy follows a two-track approach: strict action against repeat offenders and streamlined support for those seeking to remain in Colombia through legal channels.
In the most recent case, six foreign nationals were deported from Santander department on September 4—three from the city of Bucaramanga and three from the town of San Gil. Officials said all had prior records of disruptive behavior or had violated previous deportation orders.
Common violations cited by the agency include disturbing public order, using or carrying illegal drugs in public spaces, causing excessive noise, and other actions that endanger public safety—offenses covered under Colombia’s National Security and Coexistence Code.
The agency reported that more than a dozen Venezuelan citizens have been deported in similar operations in recent weeks, with additional cases in the cities of Cartagena and Montería. In Cartagena, a woman was expelled for repeated drug-related citations, while in Montería, a man with finalized criminal convictions was also deported.
Read the full story at El Tiempo for more details on Colombia’s immigration policies.
Source: Cruzada de Migración Colombia apunta a expulsión de extranjeros reincidentes y a regular más de 150 mil venezolanos (eltiempo.com). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: jonathan mcintosh, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).