In the leaked video of De la Espriella addressing a security cabinet meeting on Sunday in his Caribbean stronghold of Barranquilla, he is heard saying: “The order to Immigration (authorities) is clear…first those who are committing crimes, second those who have not regularised their status and who will have to be deported in due course.”
“I will not accept illegal migrants, no matter where they come from,” he said, announcing the start of deportation procedures “this week” under what he called a presidential order.
The hardline lawyer took office on August 7 with an agenda to fight crime and drug-trafficking guerrillas.
He put that plan on hold in the wake of a powerful August 10 earthquake, which left over 300 people dead in the west of the country and destroyed thousands of homes.
In Sunday’s meeting, he echoed the “America First” agenda of US President Donald Trump, of whom he is an avid fan.
“Colombians, first, Colombians second, Colombians third, may that be clear to everyone,” De la Espriella said.
Colombia is home to an estimated three million Venezuelans, who fled their country’s economic and political crisis across the border over the past decade.
Previous right-wing leaders have been tolerant of Venezuelan migrants, seeing them as victims of socialist president Nicolas Maduro, who was ousted by US forces in January. (AFP)
