Chile militarizes its northern border to prevent irregular immigration | The commune of Kolsen is at the center of the migration crisis

Chile on Monday began military deployments at key points along its border with Peru and Bolivia, the 90-day measure seeks to increase control over the irregular entry of migrants affecting the region. “Chile has spent a long time not doing what it needs to do to be in good control. “It’s not just the absence of military presence, many things are missing,” the home minister said. Carolina Doha From Colcane commune, the epicenter of the migration crisis. The minister’s presence in the region occurs within the framework of a constitutional reform approved by Congress in January of this year, which authorizes the deployment of armed forces for the protection of critical infrastructure.

“Chile hasn’t done what it should for a long time”

Every day, at 3,700 meters above sea level, hundreds of people, mostly Venezuelan families, make their way to Santiago de Chile, bypassing a few colsen checkpoints to reach Iquique. Minister Doha described the migrant situation faced by Gabriel Boric’s government and criticized the previous administration of Sebastian Pinera for its shortcomings in this matter.

Minister Doha said, “You have to wonder why the President’s government Battle He met the customs with very little equipment; The police are stationed at the border in some guard-boxes, which are kept upright by some sticks which they build; Why do we see a recently formed migrant service with a waiting list of thousands of thousands of people.” And it’s not just the deployment of the military, he said, but also the lack of personnel, technology, facilities and the budget. “For a long time, Chile has not done what it needs to do to control the borders. Chile is, perhaps, the country with the most borders in the world. Because we are such a long country, we have seas and mountains.” According to Doha, the border issue must be treated with the importance it deserves if the nation is not to end up in the situation it finds itself in now.

What powers will the armed forces have?

The Chilean military conducts identity checks and detains those entering or leaving through unauthorized border crossings. Those arrested will be handed over to the local police. Home Undersecretary, Manuel MonsalveHe insisted on the deployment of military forces This will not only limit the entry of migrants but also help curb people smuggling and trafficking..

A decree issued by Boric’s government says there has been an increase in migrants in the country, which has led to a “massive influx of people through unauthorized routes”. The measure will be used in key parts of the northern border in the regions of Arica and Barinacota, Antofagasta and Tarapaca, and will be added to others taken by the trans-Andean country in recent years to control the flow of migrants from the north. After these first 90 days are over, the deployment of troops along the border may be maintained, with prior agreement with Congress.

A year ago, then-President Piñera’s government widened a 600-meter-long single ditch to a two-meter depth — built near Kolsen six years ago.. Criminal gangs dedicated to smuggling and drug trafficking built bridges to cross it, which were used by undocumented immigrants.

In recent years, dozens of people have died trying to enter Chile through secret routes in the mountains., an uneven region with high temperatures during the day and very low temperatures at night. These dangerous steps remain the main irregular entry route to Chile, which despite 2019’s pandemic and social outburst remains one of the most attractive countries for migration within Latin America due to its relative political and economic stability.

The Latin American country has a total of 1.4 million immigrantsThis equates to more than seven percent of the population. Venezuelans make up the largest population, followed by Peruvians, Haitians and Colombians. Kolsen is one of the communes most affected by the migration crisis in the north of the country since 2020, which worsened towards the end of 2021. Javier García, mayor of the municipality of Colzán, condemned on local radio. About 400 people enter through unauthorized steps every day.

The entry of immigrants into Chile has been the cause of many protests in recent years by neighboring countries from different regions who see them as culprits in increasing insecurity. In January 2022, a mobilization of more than two thousand protesters in the city of Iqueque ended with the burning of possessions and tents occupied by the majority of Venezuelans.