Colombian President Abelardo De la Espriella ordered police and immigration authorities to begin to identify and deport migrants without legal status, Photo by Carlos Ortega/EPA
Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Colombian President Abelardo De la Espriella ordered police and immigration authorities to begin to identify and deport migrants without legal status, starting in Barranquilla, the president's office said.
De la Espriella issued the order during a security council meeting in the Caribbean city, where he announced measures to combat homicide, extortion, drug trafficking and other crimes, according to an official statement.
"The order to Migration is clear: coordinated operations with the police must begin in Barranquilla to find illegal immigrants," De la Espriella said.
The president said authorities would first target foreign nationals committing crimes and then those who have not regularized their immigration status in Colombia.
