Colombia clarifies deportation policy will not affect regularized Venezuelans

The Colombian government has clarified that its recent deportation measures for irregular migrants will not affect Venezuelan citizens who have regularized their status. Interior Minister Rodrigo Lara stated that the order issued by President Abelardo De La Espriella does not target the nearly two million Venezuelans who entered the country between 2019 and 2021.

Lara emphasized that individuals holding the Permiso por Protección Temporal (PPT) are not considered illegal immigrants, as their stay is fully supported by the current legal framework. The government's enforcement focus is instead directed at combating illegal trafficking and human smuggling, specifically targeting criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo that profit from irregular transit through the Darien Gap.