Colombian authorities rescued 17 minors which were under the control of the ultra-orthodox Jewish sect Lev Tahorin a hotel in the municipality of Yarumal, Antioquia.
News Colombia.
The authorities rescued 17 minors who were under the control of the Lev Tahor sect in a hotel in Yarumal, Antioquia. Five of them had a yellow Interpol circular, which activated a joint operation between Migration Colombia and the Military Gaula to protect the children.
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The 17 minors were found inside a hotel in the urban area of Yarumal, where they also remained. 26 people in totalall members of this religious community. They had arrived from New York between October 22 and 23 with the intention of install a new colony in Colombia.
The presence of the group caught the attention of the inhabitants for their traditional clothingunusual for a municipality with a cold climate, which led the authorities to verify its identity and origin.
Upon reviewing the documents, officials confirmed that five American minors were registered by Interpol due to alleged disappearance or impossibility of identification, which accelerated the intervention of the authorities.
Who are Lev Tahor and why are they under investigation?
Lev Tahor is a controversial Orthodox Jewish sect founded in 1988 in Israel by Rabbi Shlomo Erez Helbrans. Currently it would have around 300 members and is known for its extremist practices and constant migrations to avoid legal proceedings.
Their leaders face investigations in United States, Canada, Guatemala and other countries for alleged crimes such as:
- Kidnapping
- Forced marriages
- Child sexual abuse and exploitation
- human trafficking
The group has passed through countries such as Mexico, Romania, Bosnia, North Macedonia and Türkiye, generally fleeing investigations into violations of minors.
Transfer to Medellín and verification of immigration measures
After the discovery, the minors and adults were taken to the Medellín Immigration Services Facilitation Centerwhere they began processes to determine their immigration status and verify if the children had been victims of crimes.
A team made up of ICBF psychologists, social workers and family advocates accompanies minors to guarantee their protection and well-being.
Authorities are also investigating whether the children were kidnapped in their countries of origin or if they were being subjected to vulnerable conditions within the sect.
Migration Colombia: protection of minors is a priority
The director of Migration Colombia, Gloria Esperanza Arrieroassured that the intervention was carried out under a preventive and humanitarian approach:
“The absolute priority is to guarantee the protection of minors. We act in coordination with the ICBF, the Judicial Police, the Military Gaula and the Prosecutor’s Office to safeguard their rights.”
In Yarumal, Migración Colombia with the support of the Military Gaula and the @ICBFColombia rescued 17 boys, girls and adolescents from the Orthodox Jewish sect Lev Tahor. Five of them have yellow Interpol circulars. The priority is their protection and the restoration of rights. pic.twitter.com/kjEums0DDv
— Gloria Arriero (@Gloarriero) November 23, 2025
