Elections in Chile: Migrants Face Threats of Camps, Deportations and Land Mines

Photo: Bloomberg

Chile enters the presidential election phase amid a sharp escalation of anti-migration rhetoric. Candidates respond to voter demands and promise mass deportations, migrant camps and an expanded military presence at the border, Bloomberg reports. However, experts warn that with a rapidly aging population, the country risks losing essential labor resources and facing long-term economic consequences.

Escalation of Rhetoric and Candidate Proposals

Candidates are putting forward increasingly harsh measures. Right-wing libertarian Johannes Kaiser calls for the internment of all undocumented migrants, banning their children from schools and subsequent deportation of families. Economist and populist candidate Franco Parisi insists on laying land mines along the border. Left-wing candidate and former labor minister Jeannette Jara, who leads first-round polls, also supports stricter controls. Her program includes fast-track deportation of foreign nationals convicted of drug-related crimes.

The frontrunner for the second round is far-right former congressman José Antonio Kast. He vows to “outdo Donald Trump” on self-deportation policies, calls illegal migration a national security threat and promises to expand military deployment along the northern border. His message to migrants sounds like a warning: “Sell everything, take the cash and leave — otherwise you will walk out with only the clothes on your back.” Kast’s supporters spread posters reading: “Party’s over. Bye, illegals.”

Public Demand for Tougher Measures

Over the past five years, the number of foreigners in Chile has increased by almost 50% to 1.9 million people — 10% of the population. More than 337,000 migrants now live with irregular status — compared with just 10,000 in 2018. Former head of the migration service Rodrigo Sandoval admits that state institutions failed to handle the influx.

Most arrivals come from Venezuela, Haiti and Colombia. They cross the border through the high-altitude northern desert, once considered a natural barrier — now the main illegal entry route into Chile.

Chilean media broadcast daily crime stories explicitly mentioning the nationality of suspects. Foreigners account for 16% of the prison population — mostly Venezuelans, followed by Colombians and Bolivians. Killings linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua reinforce the perception of migrants as a threat. According to LatAm Pulse, 92% of Chileans support tougher immigration rules — far more than in other major regional economies.

In working-class neighborhoods, posters reading “Expel the criminals” appear on the streets, while locals blame migrants for disorder and pressure on public services. Violence is rising as well. A telling case is the murder of 43-year-old Venezuelan woman Yaidy Garnica after a dispute over loud music. Neighbors broke down the gate to her home, and one man entered with a shotgun and fired.

The Demographic Trap

The migration debate in Chile unfolds against the backdrop of rapid demographic aging. According to OECD estimates, the number of people aged 65+ per 100 working-age residents will rise from 20% to 60% by 2060. The fertility rate has already fallen to 1.03 children per woman — lower than in Japan. Business leaders warn that without migrant labor, key industries will face severe workforce shortages.

Farmer Mauro Magnasco says that half of the berry and fruit pickers on his 450-hectare farm are migrants from Peru and Bolivia. Locals largely refuse such jobs. “We need people who come legally and want to work. We must distinguish those who contribute from those who abuse the system,” he says. When the head of the agricultural union, Antonio Walker, proposed partial legalization of undocumented workers, Kast replied: “Chile can no longer afford improvisation.”

Conclusion

Many migrants are already afraid to leave their homes and are discussing a new relocation. The election outcome will determine the future course of policy. If the proposed measures are implemented, Chile may face a severe labor shortage, especially in agriculture and services. Without a balance between control and economic needs, the country risks increasing social tension and undermining its demographic outlook.

Anti-migrant rhetoric fits into a broader continental trend. Donald Trump has returned to power in the US, promoting self-deportation. Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino won on a promise to close the Darién Gap route. In Canada, conservative Pierre Poilievre narrowly lost while campaigning on stricter immigration limits.