Colombia’s Far-Right “Mano Dura” Politics & US Expulsion Threat to Migrants

Fernando, a Colombian in the US, fears expulsion under new far-right President Abelardo de la Espriella, who advocates mano dura policies. Many Colombians face deportation, raising human rights concerns similar to El Salvador's Bukele regime.

Now living in the Bay Location, Fernando claims he was drawn by de la Espriella’s assurance of “la mano dura,” or iron fist, a style of politics defined by hardline, tough-on-crime plans that have typically diverted right into civils rights infractions and political mistreatment in countries across Latin America.

“It took us completely by shock,” he noted, adding the thought of returning to Colombia now, after a number of years living and working in the US, and with the security scenario in the country significantly vulnerable, is “made complex.”.

“Much like Latinos did when choosing Donald Trump … I did the same. I elected Abelardo because of several of his proposals,” claimed Fernando, “but without the intent that those same plans would certainly capture and move individuals like me up.”.

De la Espriella’s Rise to Power

It likewise aided him protect greater than 80% of ballots cast by abroad Colombians, a lot of them in the US, and many currently the target of expulsion initiatives that de la Espriella himself appears all set to support.

He’s likewise kept in mind of de la Espriella’s silence following Guererro’s death, as opposed to repeated needs by outward bound President Gustavo Petro that Colombian nationals slated for expulsion be dealt with humanely and “with dignity.”.

Fernando (that asked that we only utilize his first name) ran away Colombia with his family members in 2022, a year that saw a record 547,000 Colombians leave the nation amid escalating violence and political instability. (The non-partisan Movement Policy Institute estimates the variety of unauthorized Colombians now in the US at 444,000, up from 182,000 in 2019.).

On August 7, Colombia will vow in its brand-new president, the far-right firebrand and Trump-backed Abelardo de la Espriella, or “The Tiger” as he’s often called. The White Residence’s support throughout the project played a key function in de la Espriella’s June success.

A previous litigator transformed business owner– that made a name and small fortune for himself protecting politicians arraigned for corruption, along with guys with well-known connections to medication traffickers and paramilitary groups– de la Espriella is also a united state person.

Growing Fear & US Incidents

The July 14 killing of 26-year-old Colombian Joan Sebastián Guerrero in Biddeford Maine by an ICE representative throughout a traffic stop includes in the expanding feeling of anxiousness among Colombians here. Guerrero, that was not the target of the procedure, was killed before his three-year-old daughter.

On June 22, Colombian American Republican Senator Bernie Moreno (R– Oh) fulfilled with de la Espriella and uploaded a message quickly after on the social media platform, X.

“Mano Dura” & Its Consequences

El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele is currently the most preferred and popular personification of la mano dura. His presidency– marked by comprehensive and recorded human rights abuses– has inspired leaders from Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa to Chile’s Antonio Kast to de la Espriella himself, whose campaign was brimming with guarantees to squash Colombia’s criminal teams while constructing a collection of mega-prisons akin to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT.

Among those apprehended was Franklin Humberto Reefs Garrido, much better referred to as Beto Coral reefs, an on-line lobbyist that was targeted by Migration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for his criticism of de la Espriella. In a June 16 memorandum, U.S. Assistant of State Marco Rubio composed Reefs’s on the internet advocacy “weakens united state diplomacy rate of interests.”.

Colombian Expulsion Crisis in the US

According to current information from TRAC Reports, in 2026, Colombia ranked 5th amongst nationalities with the most expulsion orders released by united state courts, totaling 36,651 eliminations. Mexico remained at the top of the listing, followed by Honduras, Guatemala and Venezuela.

“You assume that maybe due to that, there’s a possibility they’ll provide us a little bit more assistance here, where we can settle more, feel more secure,” stated Fernando. He clarifies that for Colombians like himself living in the US with liminal legal status, the hope was that de la Espriella would certainly act on their part as a bridge to the White House.

According to Fernando, whose asylum situation continues to be pending, he and his household dealt with installing hazards from neighborhood criminal groups in the country area of Colombia where they ran a small business. Confronted with needs for money he really did not have, and fearing for his life which of his family members, he decided to leave.