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U.S. and Colombia Sign Landmark Biometric Data-Sharing Agreement

The agreement aims to bolster migration management and border security but faces criticism over potential human rights concerns.

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Kristi Noem, secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), during a meeting with Laura Sarabia, Colombia's foreign minister, not pictured, at the Chancellery in Bogota, Colombia, on Thursday, March 27, 2025. Noem is visiting Colombia this week as Washington grows impatient with the Andean nation, saying it needs to show immediate and tangible progress on eradication after Petro's government changed tack to focus more on seizing shipments. Photographer: Ivan Valencia/Bloomberg
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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem takes questions from the press before boarding her plane to Colombia at Comalapa International Airport in San Salvador, El Salvador, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Overview

  • U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Colombian Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia signed a memorandum to share biometric data on March 27, 2025, in Bogotá.
  • The agreement focuses on improving border security, disrupting criminal networks, and managing migration flows between the two nations.
  • Colombian President Gustavo Petro initially resisted U.S. deportation flights earlier this year but relented after tariff threats from President Trump.
  • Human rights organizations have raised concerns about the potential for discriminatory practices stemming from the expanded use of biometric data.
  • Noem’s Latin American tour, which included stops in El Salvador and Mexico, emphasized regional cooperation on migration, organized crime, and drug trafficking.