Particle.news

Chile Breaks Ground on Northern ‘Border Shield’ to Curb Irregular Migration

Using emergency powers, President José Antonio Kast has set a 90-day deadline to erect new barriers targeting unauthorized crossings.

Overview

  • Crews opened work at the Chacalluta crossing near Peru, where excavators dug an initial trench.
  • Officials say physical barriers are planned to span about 500 kilometers in the north, with three-metre-deep trenches in some sectors and added armed forces deployments.
  • The government launched the project under emergency decrees issued in Kast’s first days in office to strengthen border security and enable deportations.
  • Authorities have not disclosed full technical specifications, leaving the design and scope of the fortifications partly undefined.
  • Estimates suggest more than 300,000 people in Chile lack valid papers, including many Venezuelans.