By Zoila Palma: Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella is facing growing criticism over plans to launch a deportation campaign against foreign nationals living irregularly in the country. The far-right president announced the crackdown during a security council meeting Sunday and ordered police operations to begin as early as this week.
The policy is expected to primarily affect Venezuelans, who make up about 95 percent of Colombia’s migrant population. Approximately 2.8 million Venezuelans live in Colombia, with an estimated 500,000 lacking valid permission to remain.
De la Espriella said the government would first target migrants “committing crimes” before those whose immigration status has not been regularized, Aljazeera reports.
Opposition leaders have condemned the plan as xenophobic and discriminatory.
Venezuelan migrant advocates have also expressed concern, warning that irregular immigration status should not be equated with criminality.
The government plans to begin the deportation operation with a pilot program in Barranquilla, home to an estimated 182,000 Venezuelans.
The post International News: Colombia President faces backlash over deportation plan appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella is facing growing criticism over plans to launch a deportation campaign against foreign nationals living irregularly in the country. The far-right president announced the crackdown during a security council meeting Sunday and ordered police operations to begin as early as this week. The policy is expected
The post International News: Colombia President faces backlash over deportation plan appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.