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Detenidos en fila abordando autobuses policiales al amanecer junto a un avión militar de transporte
Ilustración alusiva al traslado de los expulsados desde Bogotá hacia la frontera · Imagen generada para EPM

Colombia expels more than 80 Venezuelans detained over alleged crimes

The Government of Abelardo De La Espriella on November 6 began expelling more than 80 Venezuelans detained over alleged crimes, transferred from the Sijín…

--- The context --- Colombia on Friday, November 6, 2026, began expelling more than 80 Venezuelan citizens detained for their alleged involvement in crimes in Bogotá, Medellín and other regions of the country. The measure is part of a migration control policy that combines police operations, case file verification and coordination between national and district authorities in response to public safety concerns raised in the main cities. --- The facts --- The group was gathered at the Sijín headquarters in central Bogotá, where authorities checked case files and completed the required administrative procedures. From there, those detained left in groups of 20 people under the custody of special commands and Army personnel, boarded police buses and were transferred to the Catam military base in western Bogotá for the next stage. The air destination is Cúcuta, from where the procedure will continue toward Venezuelan territory. According to the authorities, those detained have records and proceedings for extortion, homicide and other conduct that affected public safety, following arrests carried out in Bogotá and Medellín. --- The positions --- President Abelardo De La Espriella had anticipated that foreigners linked to crimes would be expelled without delay and gave precise instructions to the director of Migración Colombia to that effect. The president also said, in reported speech, that those who arrive to work, produce, respect the laws and contribute to national progress are welcome, while those who use their migrant status to commit crimes will face the full force of the State. He also proposed strengthening daily coordination between the nation and the district. --- What remains unknown --- The individual detail of each case file is not yet known, nor is the final status of all the judicial proceedings associated with those detained. The full schedule of the subsequent transfers from Cúcuta has not been specified either, nor have the follow-up mechanisms that will apply once this phase of the administrative procedure at the border is completed. --- Unanswered questions --- How will the individual review of each case file be guaranteed before the definitive departure from the country? What information will the families of those transferred receive about their location and legal situation? What support measures are planned for Venezuelan migrants in an irregular situation who have no records or pending proceedings against them? --- EPM analysis --- The operation reflects a tension present in many cities between the demand for security and the need for clear and verifiable procedures. Official data show a sustained policy since August, with broad figures for deportations, expulsions and inadmissions. Its legitimacy will depend on each case having documentary backing, on the authorities reporting transparently, and on the distinction between people with criminal proceedings and migrants without records remaining clear in practice. 📌 EPM Take: In EPM's view, the expulsion of more than 80 people should be read as part of a broader policy that already totals 812 deportations and expulsions between August 7 and October 29, with 462 cases linked to national security, public order or external requests. The challenge for the Government is to sustain firmness against crime without turning migration into general suspicion, guaranteeing verifiable case files, timely information for families and effective coordination between Bogotá, Medellín and the border authorities throughout the entire procedure ahead.
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