Colombia rescues minors linked to Lev Tahor sect in Antioquia raid

Colombia’s immigration authority announced Sunday that 17 minors connected to the controversial Lev Tahor group were removed from a compound in the town of Yarumal, in the Antioquia region. The ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect, which has faced long-standing scrutiny in multiple countries, is frequently accused of enforcing harsh communal rules and isolating its members from wider society.

Global scrutiny of Lev Tahor

Over the years, Lev Tahor has been the subject of international investigations over practices described by former members and authorities as coercive, including forced relocations, rigid dress codes, and the promotion of underage marriages. The case has drawn attention not only from the United States and Canada but also countries where the group has attempted to resettle.

Details of the Antioquia operation

Migración Colombia said the raid was conducted jointly with law enforcement, who later confirmed that the rescued children were nationals of the US, Canada, and Guatemala. Officials noted that five of the minors had active Interpol yellow notices, issued globally for missing persons considered at risk of abduction or trafficking.

Official statements and legal context

Gloria Esperanza Arriero, head of Migración Colombia, told Newsweek that the priority was “ensuring the protection of these minors,” adding that authorities had coordinated across several institutions to guarantee their safety. She emphasized that the incident did not involve children taken by force, but was linked to an ongoing legal process in the US. The operation, she said, was preventive, aiming to safeguard the rights and welfare of the children.