"There Is No Illegality in Migration": Venezuelan Diaspora Faces Deportation Threats in Colombia

The use of the term "illegal immigrants" by Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has thrust the migration crisis back into the Latin American public spotlight. Countering the president's rhetoric, sociologist Tomás Páez, who leads the Venezuelan Diaspora Observatory, firmly states that "there is no illegality in migration."

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There is no illegality in migration.

Páez clarifies that while "irregular transit or irregular stay" may exist, these are distinct from an inherent illegality in human mobility. He argues that labeling migration as illegal is a legal fallacy, citing Article 13 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which enshrines human mobility as a right.

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If there are irregular conditions of passage or irregular stay, which are two different things.

These statements from the Colombian president have created uncertainty among immigrant communities in Colombia, particularly the large Venezuelan population seeking better opportunities. Páez estimates the Venezuelan diaspora in Colombia numbers nearly three million, representing 90% of all foreigners in the country. He advises contextualizing these numbers, noting that while 600,000 Venezuelans in Bogotá constitute a small percentage of the capital's population, their presence is more significant in cities like Cúcuta.

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The legality of migration is a legal fallacy.

Despite official estimates suggesting around 800,000 Venezuelans might be in irregular migratory situations in Colombia, including nearly 200,000 minors, Páez insists that the "bulk of Venezuelans are in a regular condition in Colombia and in Ibero-America in general." He also addresses the broader trend of associating human mobility with crime, describing migration as the "new enemy" in a post-Cold War era, a narrative echoed by far-right leaders globally.

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The bulk of Venezuelans are in a regular condition in Colombia and in Ibero-America in general.