Foreign Detention Facilities Information

Discover valuable resources and information on detention facilities to help you stay informed

A group of five people, including children and an adult, stands in front of a fence at a zoo, watching animals through the wire enclosure on an overcast day.
Map of Latin America showing countries in different colors with country names labeled, including Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil. The Falkland Islands are also shown.

Colombia

In 2019, Colombia had 11 temporary immigration holding facilities (salas transitorias de migraón, STMs) where foreign nationals were detained. These facilities were intended for holding migrants for up to 36 hours while authorities decided on their status, often with the aim of deportation. Beyond these STMs, there were also reports of individuals being detained in police stations and airports for immigration puposes.