Colombia confirms detention of activist Beto Coral in U.S. where he was exiled

Franklin Humberto Coral, a Colombian leftist activist known as Beto Coral, has been detained by U.S. immigration agents in Arizona. Coral, who has lived in exile in the United States since 2015, was reportedly apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Tuesday.

The Colombian Embassy in Washington confirmed Coral's detention in a statement, assuring that the Colombian consulate in Los Angeles is monitoring the case. The embassy added that it is providing the necessary consular assistance within the framework of international law and applicable regulations.

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I have no charges and have not committed any crime. I have my documents current.

In an audio message shared on social media by Colombian legislator and activist Walter Alfonso Rodríguez, Coral stated he was detained by federal agents, allegedly on orders from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Coral asserted that he faces no charges and has committed no crime, maintaining that his documents are current.

Coral, a former congressional candidate for the progressive Frente Amplio party, has been a vocal supporter of Senator Iván Cepeda and a strong critic of far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella. De la Espriella, who is also a U.S. citizen and has the backing of President Donald Trump, recently posted on social media, hinting at "good news for patriotic Colombians abroad" and referencing a campaign to revoke visas for individuals deemed a threat to U.S. interests. The presidential election in Colombia is heading to a runoff between De la Espriella and Cepeda.

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There will be good news for patriotic Colombians abroad.