Colombia's new president orders deportations

 

TT-AFP

Published 19.15

 

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella in connection with a statement about the massive earthquake earlier in August, which marked the president's first term in power and which temporarily put his focus on crime in the background. Photo: John Vizcaino/AP/TT

Colombia's new right-wing president Abelardo de la Espriella wants to see the arrests and deportations of undocumented immigrants.

This is evident from a film recording from a government meeting on Sunday.

- I will not accept illegal migrants, regardless of where they come from, the president is heard saying in the video, where he mentions that a process for deportations will begin this week.

- The orders to the migration authorities are clear: First those who commit crimes, then those who do not have valid status and who will need to be deported.

An estimated three million Venezuelans are in Colombia after fleeing the economic and political crisis in their homeland.

Trump-friendly de la Espriella took office on August 7, after a narrow election victory over leftist candidate Iván Cepeda.