Peru has declared a state of emergency along its southern border with Chile, bracing for a potential surge of migrants seeking to flee should far-right candidate José Antonio Kast win Chile’s upcoming presidential run-off.
The emergency decree, issued Friday, authorizes the Peruvian military to reinforce security in the Tacna border region for 60 days, extending past Chile’s December 14 election in which immigration hardliner Kast faces left-wing contender Jeannette Jara.
Authorities said the measure aims not only to control migrant flows but also “to address crime and other situations of violence” in the border zone. Under the decree, the Peruvian National Police will retain primary responsibility for maintaining order, supported by the armed forces.
The announcement came hours after President José Jeri signaled the decision, following reports that dozens of migrants had become stranded at the Chile–Peru border. A video shared by the governor of Chile’s Arica region—located 2,200 kilometers north of Santiago—showed crowds attempting to leave Chile through the Chacalluta–Santa Rosa crossing.
A Venezuelan migrant told Chilean outlet The Clinic that the group was trying to cross into Peru “for fear that they remove us by force” if Kast becomes president. “They don’t want to let us into Peru,” the migrant added, requesting anonymity.
Images broadcast by Radio Tacna showed families with young children walking along the highway near the border.
Mounting Tension as Election Nears
Peru has long been both a country of origin and a transit hub for South and Central American migrants heading to Chile, historically one of the region’s most stable and economically attractive destinations. But the flow has now reversed just two weeks before Chile’s decisive vote—one in which Kast is favored to win.
Kast, a 59-year-old former lawmaker on his third presidential bid, has delivered a stark ultimatum to the roughly 330,000 undocumented migrants in Chile: leave voluntarily or face forced expulsion if he assumes office. He has blamed undocumented migration for rising violent crime over the past decade.
“To undocumented immigrants in Chile, I say you have 103 days left to leave our country voluntarily,” Kast declared in a video posted Friday, referencing March 11—the date Chile’s next president will be sworn in.
Peru Pushes Back
Peruvian Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela announced that a “binational migration cooperation committee” with Chile will convene next week to address the situation. However, he firmly stated that Peru will not accept additional undocumented migrants.
Since 2015, more than 1.5 million Venezuelans fleeing economic collapse and political turmoil have arrived in Peru, straining national resources.
“We will not allow irregular migration. We do not have the conditions or capacity to receive more migrants,” de Zela said.
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