Overview
- After the Canal 13 debate, Jeannette Jara labeled José Antonio Kast’s plan to expel undocumented migrants on charter flights they would fund as an imaginary proposal.
- Jara questioned the feasibility by noting Chile is not currently operating return flights to Venezuela, the main country of origin for recent arrivals.
- Kast reiterated pledges to close borders, cut social benefits for those in irregular status, invite them to leave, and use charter expulsions paid by the returnees.
- Jara promotes tighter border control with police and military support, drones and thermal sensors, and policies that manage flows with humanity without criminalizing poverty.
- Cadem polling shows Jara leading into the Nov. 16 election as migration tops voter concerns, with about 337,000 people estimated to be in irregular status and migrants nearing 9% of the population.