Colombia’s Lev Tahor operation renews concerns over transnational child abuse claims

The children were transferred to US authorities, while footage from Medellín airport showed the group, dressed in their characteristic long black robes, passing through security checks ahead of their departure.

According to Gloria Arriero, Director of Colombia’s national immigration service, the adults arrived in the country between 22 and 23 October from the United States and Panama, entering with valid documentation. Their presence drew immediate attention after an alert and an anonymous tip prompted a joint investigation by Migration Colombia, the Gaula Militar Oriente, and the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (ICBF). The adults were held temporarily in Medellín before being transferred to New York, while the minors were placed under ICBF protection.

Arriero said the children would remain under the custody of New York State authorities to guarantee their safety and determine long-term protective measures. Colombian officials framed the operation as part of broader efforts to address cross-border risks involving vulnerable minors, especially in cases linked to groups already under international scrutiny.

Lev Tahor has faced years of allegations of abuse, mistreatment, and educational deprivation, reported by former members in different countries. The community, which established a compound in Colombia in October, has also been the subject of legal cases abroad. Its original leader, Shlomo Helbrans, convicted of fraud in the United States, died in Mexico in 2017, and the group has since attempted to establish communities in Canada and Guatemala.

Despite the controversies, Lev Tahor has repeatedly denied all accusations, insisting it is the target of religious persecution. The latest intervention in Colombia adds to a growing list of international actions involving the group, reflecting a wider global concern over the welfare of children within isolated religious communities.