The Group of Friends of the Quito Process commends the decision of the Government of Colombia to offer Temporary Protection Status to Venezuelan migrants and refugees in its country for the next ten years. This remarkable act of solidarity should contribute to reducing human suffering for Venezuelans, while facilitating economic integration and access to services. …

On February 18, Director of the Colombian National Police (CNP), MG. Jorge Luis Vargas Valencia, and the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement’s (INL) Colombia Director, Brian Harris, inaugurated a new police base in the municipality of Calamar, Guaviare. The base will enable the CNP to expand its presence in the area, increasing citizen …

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other representatives of U.S. Law Enforcement in Colombia work in strict compliance with U.S. and Colombian law and under the supervision of prosecutors in both countries. DEA and other agencies follow procedures on case development and investigative methods that comply with laws in the U.S. and Colombia. Any assertions …

Washington – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Jhon Fredy Zapata Garzon (Zapata Garzon) pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act) for materially assisting the international narcotics trafficking activities of the Clan del Golfo. Three of his family members and associates are also being …

Press Release In light of recent media reports, including the cover story of this week’s Semana magazine, Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg would like to clarify key points regarding our bilateral relationship with the Government of Colombia, which is as strong as it has been in our long history of cooperation. We commend the Government of …

PRESS STATEMENT. MICHAEL R. POMPEO, SECRETARY OF STATE Today the U.S. Department of State announces reward offers of up to $5 million each for information leading to the arrests and/or convictions of Luis Alfredo Motta Dominguez and Eustiquio José Lugo Gómez.  In 2015, Motta Dominguez was named President of the National Electricity Corporation (Corpoelec) in Venezuela, and later in the same …

PRESS STATEMENT MICHAEL R. POMPEO, SECRETARY OF STATE Today the U.S. Department of State announces a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Wilver Villegas Palomino.  Villegas Palomino is a senior leader of the National Liberation Army (ELN) who has been indicted in the Southern District of Texas for narcoterrorism, one count of …

The beneficiaries will be Venezuelan migrants, as well as other migrant and vulnerable populations in Colombia. Bogotá – As part of the implementation of the health sector response plan to the Venezuelan regional crisis, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection received from a donation from the United States. This donation is to support 1,000 …

The U.S. Embassy and the Colombian Ministry of National Defense announce the arrival of a U.S. Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) to help Colombia in its fight against drug trafficking. The SFAB is a specialized unit of the U.S. Army formed to advise and assist operations in foreign nations. Its mission in Colombia will begin …

Department of State Office of the Spokesperson Today, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and the United States Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) led a counternarcotics dialogue with the Government of Colombia to set forth a bilateral, whole-of-government joint action plan to reduce the …

Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo will travel to Germany, Colombia, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Florida January 18-23. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo will travel to Berlin on January 19 to attend the jointly hosted German-UN international conference on Libya, as part of the three-point plan UN Special Representative Salamé outlined to the UN …

JAN. 2, 2020 At the direction of the President, the U.S. military has taken decisive defensive action to protect U.S. personnel abroad by killing Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq …

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesperson December 31, 2019 The United States welcomes the Duque administration’s release of its draft decree on the resumption of aerial coca eradication, which details how it would meet strict health and environmental conditions set by Colombia’s Constitutional Court. The decision to employ aerial spraying is a sovereign …

A U.S. delegation will travel to Bogota, Colombia, December 2-4 to attend the meeting of the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (TIAR) Organ of Consultation. The delegation will include Michael Kozak, Acting Assistant Secretary for the State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs and Carlos Trujillo, U.S. Ambassador to the U.S. Organization of American States. …

UNITED STATES MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS Office of Press and Public Diplomacy FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 16, 2019 United States Ambassador to the United Nations (USUN) Kelly Craft will travel to Bogota and Cucuta, Colombia November 16-20 to observe firsthand the plight of displaced Venezuelans and refugees, the significant and meaningful Colombian response, and …

BUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AFFAIRS On October 9, 2019, U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and Colombian Foreign Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo met under the auspices of the High Level Dialogue to discuss our broad bilateral agenda. Secretary Pompeo commended President Ivan Duque’s leadership and the Colombian police and military for their impressive counternarcotics efforts that resulted in a decline …

The United States fully supports the conclusions shared by President Duque at the UN General Assembly calling out the sanctioned Maduro regime for its ongoing support of criminal and narco-terrorist groups in Venezuelan territory. There is no doubt that these groups continue to engage in narcotics trafficking and other criminal activity that continue to destabilize …

On September 25, Secretary Pompeo announced in New York nearly $119 million in additional humanitarian assistance to further demonstrate the United States’ commitment and solidarity with the Venezuelan people and the region in response to the Maduro-made Venezuela crisis.  This amount includes nearly $36 million for life-saving aid inside Venezuela. These funds will increase much …

COVEÑAS (NNS) – Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Southern Command and the Infantería de Marina de Colombia will kick off a week of Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief (HA/DR) rehearsals and Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs), in Coveñas, Colombia, September 30. This rehearsal and SMEE are hosted by the Armada Nacional de Colombia and will …

The United States strongly repudiates recent calls for a return to the conflict and violence of Colombia’s past.  The United States reaffirms its steadfast support for the Government of Colombia in its determination to implement the Havana Accord and secure the just and lasting peace the Colombian people deserve.  Inclusive democratic institutions have been and …

Alex Saab bribed stepsons of Nicolás Maduro and exploited no-bid contracts to loot hundreds of millions of dollars from starving Venezuelans  Washington – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Colombian national Alex Nain Saab Moran (Saab), a profiteer orchestrating a vast corruption network that has enabled former …

On July 25, the United States sanctioned five individuals involved in a complex network of bribery and money laundering that has been stealing from the people of Venezuela for years, as well as an additional five individuals and 13 entities connected to these corrupt actors.  Among the individuals involved were Maduro’s three stepsons (Walter, Yosser …

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus:‎ Secretary Michael R. Pompeo met with Colombian Foreign Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo today in Washington, D.C. The two leaders discussed the ongoing political and man-made humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. The Secretary expressed gratitude for Colombia’s continued leadership and extraordinary generosity in hosting displaced Venezuelans. The Secretary and …

Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Kimberly Breier will lead the U.S. delegation to the 49th Regular Session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) to be held in Medellín, Colombia June 26-28, 2019. The Assistant Secretary will address the General Assembly’s plenary session the morning of June 27 and …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, June 26, 2019 CONTACT: 202-881-8063 Peter.D.Hoffman@ondcp.eop.gov Washington, D.C. – According to a 2018 estimate released today by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) , coca cultivation and cocaine production in Colombia remains high but is leveling off. The estimate states coca cultivation in Colombia saw a minor decrease in 2018 to 208,000 hectares from 209,000 hectares in …

U.S. Embassy Statement The United States Embassy reaffirms the strong friendship and alliance between Colombia and the United States. We have supported the Colombian government and people through times of war and we will continue to support them in times of peace. Visa records are confidential under U.S. law. We do not discuss individual visas …

Assistant Secretary Kimberly Breier will travel to Argentina and Colombia May 9 through 13 to strengthen regional cooperation in promoting democracy, economic prosperity, and security. From May 9 to 12, Assistant Secretary Breier will travel to Buenos Aires to deepen the U.S.-Argentine partnership in promoting democratic governance, combating terrorism and transnational crime, and advancing free, …

Washington – Today, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) removed sanctions imposed on Manuel Ricardo Cristopher Figuera (Cristopher), who last week broke ranks with the Maduro regime and rallied to the support of the Venezuelan constitution and the National Assembly. Cristopher is the former Director General of Venezuela’s National Intelligence …

Today, Vice President Pence announced that the United States is providing nearly $61 million in additional humanitarian assistance to support the regional response for the 3.4 million Venezuelans who have fled the man-made crisis in their country. The Vice President recognizes the need to increase support for these vulnerable Venezuelans, and announced the new funding …

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesperson For Immediate Release READOUT April 2, 2019 Secretary Pompeo’s Call with Colombian President Ivan Duque Marquez The below is attributable to Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino:‎ Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo spoke yesterday with Colombian President Ivan Duque Marquez.  The Secretary and President Duque discussed the importance …

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesperson ________________________________________ For Immediate Release MEDIA NOTE February 21, 2019 Special Representative for Venezuela Elliott Abrams Travel to Miami and Cucuta, Colombia Special Representative for Venezuela Elliott Abrams will travel to Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida, and Cucuta, Colombia February 21-22 to support the delivery of humanitarian aid …

The White House Office of the Vice President FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 23, 2019 READOUT OF VICE PRESIDENT PENCE’S CALL WITH THE PRESIDENT OF COLOMBIA, IVAN DUQUE Vice President Pence spoke by phone today with the President of Colombia, Ivan Duque, to express his most sincere condolences to the Colombian people and to the families …

Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC Vice President Mike Pence announced today at the 73rd regular session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, NY, more than $48 million in additional humanitarian U.S. assistance for Venezuelans affected by the man-made crisis in Venezuela. This funding will help provide affected Venezuelans with emergency food …

Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC Today, the United States imposed sanctions on four current or former officials of the Government of Venezuela: First Lady and Former Attorney General Cilia Adela Flores de Maduro, Executive Vice President Delcy Eloina Rodriguez Gomez, Minister of Communication and Information Jorge Jesus Rodriguez Gomez, and Minister of Defense Vladimir …

Heather Nauert, Department Spokesperson, Washington, DC The United States congratulates Colombia on its accession and completion of the process to become a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The United States commends Colombia’s significant efforts over the past five years to meet the OECD’s technical standards. Membership will bring benefits to the economy …

Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas A. Shannon, Jr. will travel to Ecuador, Colombia, and Chile February 25-March 3.  The Under Secretary will underscore long-standing U.S. support for bilateral priorities and reaffirm U.S. engagement to promote a safe, prosperous, and democratic hemisphere. In Quito, Ecuador on February 25-27, Under Secretary Shannon will meet …

Action Targets Individuals Working to Undermine Law Enforcement Investigations Washington – The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today designated longtime Colombian criminal Javier Garcia Rojas (alias “Maracuya”) and two other Colombian nationals as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers (SDNTs) pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act) for …

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE – Office of the Spokesperson – STATEMENT BY HEATHER NAUERT, SPOKESPERSON With the objective of maximizing national security, the Department of State will implement Executive Order 13780,  “Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States” in an orderly fashion, consistent with the Supreme Court’s unanimous order, and in …

U.S. Department of the Treasury – Office of Public Affairs Washington – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated eight Venezuelan government officials pursuant to Executive Order 13692.  The designated officials, members of Venezuela’s Supreme Court of Justice (Tribunal Supremo de Justicia or TSJ), are responsible for a …

Today, on May 17, the members of the OAS LGBTI Core Group (Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, United States and Uruguay) are proud to join other governments and civil society organizations from around the world to celebrate the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT). This year, the IDAHOT is an opportunity to …

UNITED STATES MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS – Office of Press and Public Diplomacy At the request of the United States, the UN Security Council will meet this afternoon at 12:30 PM on the situation in Venezuela. This will be a closed, informal meeting of the Council. Below is a quote attributable to Ambassador Nikki …

UNITED STATES MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS – Office of Press and Public Diplomacy We are deeply concerned about the Maduro government’s violent crackdown on protestors in Venezuela. President Maduro’s disregard for the fundamental rights of his own people has heightened the political and economic crisis in the country. The Maduro regime must respect Venezuela’s …

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE – Office of the Spokesperson – STATEMENT BY MARK TONER, ACTING SPOKESPERSON. Venezuela has been witness in recent weeks to ongoing social protests, ever since the Supreme Court demonstrated its lack of independence from the Executive Branch through a continuing series of court decisions against the members of the freely-elected National …

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE – Office of the Spokesperson – STATEMENT BY MARK TONER, ACTING SPOKESPERSON The United States views with grave concern the Venezuelan government’s actions to bar Miranda State Governor Henrique Capriles—a prominent, democratically-elected member of Venezuela’s political opposition and former presidential candidate—from participating in the country’s public life for 15 years. We …

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE – Office of the Spokesperson. The United States condemns in the strongest terms the barbaric attacks on Christian places of worship in Tanta and Alexandria that killed dozens of innocent people and injured many more on this holy day of Palm Sunday.  We express our condolences to the families and friends …

The U.S. Embassy stands with Colombia following the terrible disaster and loss of life in Mocoa. We are supporting the efforts of CNP aviacion helicopters which are providing essential services in the rescue response effort. The U.S. government stands ready to continue to support Colombia at this difficult moment and is looking for additional ways …

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE – Office of the Spokesperson – Statemeny by Mark Toner, Acting Spokesperson. The United States condemns the Venezuelan Supreme Court’s March 29 decision to usurp the powers of the democratically elected National Assembly.  This rupture of democratic and constitutional norms greatly damages Venezuela’s democratic institutions and denies the Venezuelan people the …

Press Statement Mark C. Toner Deputy Department Spokesperson Washington, DC   President Trump called on Venezuela on February 15 to release opposition leader and political prisoner Leopoldo Lopez. Lopez was sentenced last year to nearly 14 years in prison on the specious charges of inciting anti-government protests in 2014. The Venezuelan Supreme Court denied his …

WASHINGTON, DC: Representative Eliot L. Engel, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement on the progress of peace talks in Colombia: I welcome yesterday’s announcement by President Santos of major breakthroughs in peace negotiations between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).  When …

September 23, 2015 Colombia Peace Process I am very pleased to see that the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have reached major breakthroughs on the outstanding issues in the peace process negotiations:  transitional justice, disarmament, and a timetable for signing a final agreement. The announcements made today at the peace …

the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated four Colombian nationals residing in Switzerland as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act).

Bogotá, May 27, 2015 In an effort to help reduce everyone’s time waiting in line, beginning June 1, 2015 visa applicants should arrive to the U.S. Embassy at the time of their appointment and no earlier.  Applicants will only be permitted to enter the Embassy compound at the time of their appointment.  Previously the Embassy …

Washington, May 22, 2015   Targets Members of a Colombian Maritime Drug Trafficking Organization The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today designated José Berley Guarín Loaiza as a Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act) for his significant role in international narcotics …

On May 20, 2015, Ambassador Kevin Whitaker and Colombian Finance Minister Mauricio Cardenas signed a Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) intergovernmental agreement, aimed at combating offshore tax evasion and promoting transparency through the exchange of tax information. FATCA is rapidly becoming the global model for combating offshore tax evasion and promoting transparency.  Enacted in …

Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken will lead the U.S. delegation to the U.S.-Colombia High-Level Partnership Dialogue and the Steering Committee for the U.S.-Colombia Action Plan on Racial and Ethnic Equality, and join the High-Level Strategic Security Dialogue led by Deputy National Security Advisor Avril Haines, during his April 27-28 travel to Bogota, Colombia. This …

On Earth Day 2015, the U.S. Embassy Bogota is proud to announce that Colombia’s first Carrera Verde has achieved Gold-Level Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport , based in Eugene, Oregon, USA.  Carrera Verde—a 10-kilometer race held in Bogota on February 22, 2015—was co-hosted by the U.S. Embassy and Fundación Natura, a Colombia-based non-governmental environmental organization.  The race …

An international undercover law enforcement operation culminated Saturday with the arrests of 12 individuals involved in sex trafficking and the rescue of 55 sex trafficking victims, all minors. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Attaché Office in Colombia and the Colombian Attorney General’s Technical Investigative Corps Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit (CTI …

On Thursday, Secretary Hagel will embark on his second trip to Latin America this year, a six-day, three-country trip that includes visits to Colombia, Chile, and Peru. Secretary Hagel will begin his trip in Colombia, where he will meet with Colombian leaders and reinforce our close and wide-ranging defense partnership.  Colombia continues to expand its …

Dear Mr. Chairman: (Madam Chairman:) (Dear Representative:) (Dear Senator:) (Dear Mr. Vice Chairman:) This report to the Congress, under section 804(a) of the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, 21 U.S.C. 1903(b)(1) (the “Kingpin Act”), transmits my designations of the following three foreign individuals as appropriate for sanctions under the Kingpin Act and reports my direction of …

Vice President Joe Biden will travel to Brazil, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic during the week of June 16, 2014. In each country, the Vice President will meet with key leaders to discuss the full range of bilateral, regional and global issues. While in Brazil, the Vice President will attend the June 16th match in …

Studying abroad just got easier. The Department of State announced on May 25 the nine universities selected to receive the latest round of 100,000 Strong in the Americas innovation grants. Since January, twenty three grants have been awarded to universities across the hemisphere. This round of grants, sponsored by Santander Universities, incentivizes universities to provide …