His father was in the capture of Pablo Escobar and sought asylum in the U.S., but ended up deported for fraud

Colombian activist Franklin Humberto Coral Garrido, known as Beto Coral, was deported from the United States to Colombia in July 2026, concluding a years-long legal battle after his asylum request was denied. The case resurfaced when U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau presented it as an example of alleged abuse within the U.S. immigration protection system.

Coral's father, Humberto Coral Caballero, was a police captain and a member of the Search Bloc, the unit credited with locating and leading to the death of Medellín Cartel leader Pablo Escobar in 1993. Captain Coral was assassinated in April 1994, a tragedy that deeply impacted his son. Beto Coral later chronicled his family's story and the circumstances surrounding his father's murder in his 2023 book, "El día que mataron a mi padre."

Beto Coral entered the U.S. in December 2015 on a B1/B2 visa, initially permitted for six months. Before his visa expired in March 2016, he filed for asylum, citing threats linked to the situation in Colombia and his father's death. While his asylum claim remained pending for years, during which he obtained work permits, U.S. authorities questioned whether his case met the criteria for protection. Landau specifically criticized the prolonged nature of Coral's stay and the repeated renewals of his work permit, suggesting it highlighted systemic issues.

Coral was detained in Arizona in June 2026 following political activities against a Colombian presidential candidate. His deportation and the surrounding controversy drew international attention, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio commenting on the case.