Chile begins construction of barriers at the border with Peru to combat illegal immigration

The Chilean president, José Antonio Kast, stated that his government will begin the construction of barriers to limit illegal migration, announcing this in front of an excavator at the Chacalluta border crossing.

Kast, a far-right leader, recently took office and set a 90-day deadline for the completion of the works, without specifying the type of infrastructure. His plan includes trenches three meters deep, extending over approximately 500 kilometers, especially in the Tarapacá region, the epicenter of illegal migration from Venezuela. It is also expected that a larger number of soldiers will be deployed at the borders.

José Antonio Kast came to power with a strong anti-crime and illegal immigration rhetoric, promising swift actions to reduce crime. In Chile, approximately 337,000 foreigners are in an illegal situation, although the country remains one of the safest in Latin America.