Colombian President's Order to Deport Undocumented Migrants Sparks Uncertainty Among Venezuelans The announcement by Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella to launch operations targeting undocumented migrants and deport them has created significant uncertainty among Venezuelans living in the country, particularly those who have not yet regularized their status. The president’s directive, issued on Sunday, called for coordinated efforts with Barranquilla police to identify and deport undocumented individuals, prioritizing those committing crimes and those without legal documentation. Venezuelan legal expert César González, based in Colombia, expressed deep concern over the policy, stating that the population is “extremely worried” and struggling to assess the impact. “We haven’t even been able to count the number of people contacting us to seek options,” he told The Associated Press. Colombia, which hosts the largest Venezuelan diaspora in the region, has welcomed over 2.8 million migrants from Venezuela since the country’s political and social crisis began more than a decade ago. According to official data, over 527,000 Venezuelans remain in the country without complying with migration regulations. Migración Colombia, the country’s migration authority, clarified that the new director of the agency has not yet taken office, leaving the implementation of the president’s orders to be handled by the current leadership. The agency emphasized that its role would involve executing the government’s decisions on migration control, regularization, and potential deportations. De la Espriella, backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, had previously pledged during his campaign to “return” Venezuelans who violated Colombian law.#abelardo_de_la_espriella #colombian_president #barranquilla_police #cesar_gonzalez #migracion_colombia
Colombian Government Updates Earthquake Death Toll to 289 and 143 Missing The Colombian government revised its death toll from the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck the western region of the country on August 14, 2026, reducing the number of fatalities to 289 and listing 143 people as missing. The updated figures were announced by the National Risk Management and Disaster Response Unit (UNGRD) on the night of August 15, 2026, following discrepancies in initial reports. Earlier, the unit had cited 294 deaths and 320 missing persons, but adjustments in daily municipal reports led to the revised numbers. The earthquake, which originated in San José del Palmar, Chocó department, caused widespread devastation. According to the UNGRD, the disaster has left 3,937 injured, over 117,000 people affected, 14,705 homes destroyed, and damage to an additional 81,536 residences. The Institute of Legal Medicine reported that 279 victims have been identified, including 21 minors, with 268 bodies already handed over to families. Rescue operations continued four days after the quake, with teams distributing food to volunteers and searchers sifting through rubble in Cali, the capital of the Valle del Cauca department. In Cali, where over 70 people remain missing, Mayor Alejandro Eder expressed hope for survivors, stating, “Miracles exist” and emphasizing ongoing efforts to locate those still trapped. Residents in Quibdó, Chocó, such as Marisol Córdova, urged for urgent aid as debris removal progressed. “We ask to be relocated; we have no homes to live in,” she told Caracol News. President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a national disaster and economic emergency, allowing for temporary tax collection to fund reconstruction efforts, including hospitals, schools, infrastructure, and airports.#colombian_government #ungrd #san_jose_del_palmar #abelardo_de_la_espriella #alejandro_eder
Colombia’s earthquake is déjà vu for Venezuelans. The government response is anything but The recent 7.4-magnitude earthquake in Colombia, which struck on Monday, has drawn stark comparisons to Venezuela’s back-to-back tremors in June, highlighting the divergent approaches of the two neighboring nations in managing the aftermath of natural disasters. While both events left widespread devastation, the contrasting government responses underscored the differences in political systems, institutional capacity, and resource allocation. In Venezuela, acting President Delcy Rodríguez delayed her initial address to the nation for nearly four hours after the June 24 earthquakes, while Colombia’s newly inaugurated President Abelardo de la Espriella swiftly established an emergency command post within an hour of the quake. The disparity in response times became a symbol of the broader differences between Venezuela’s authoritarian governance and Colombia’s democratic framework. In Venezuela, civilians were left to manually clear rubble, whereas Colombia deployed heavy machinery and international rescue teams almost immediately. The contrast in aid coordination further emphasized the divide. Venezuela relied heavily on foreign rescuers to fill gaps in its under-resourced emergency response, while Colombia initially rejected foreign crews, citing sufficient domestic capabilities. Instead, Colombia requested humanitarian supplies, a decision that drew criticism from China’s ambassador, who questioned the clarity of the country’s international coordination efforts. Colombia’s political transition also shaped its response.#venezuela #colombia #delcy_rodriguez #gustavo_petro #abelardo_de_la_espriella
