Migrants in Chile Await Election Outcomes Full of Uncertainty
In an informal settlement near a disused landfill, a group of migrants holds their breath as Chile’s presidential election approaches. Many voters are advocating for stricter immigration policies, some even calling for the expulsion of migrants. The topic of illegal migration is surfacing prominently in the election, intertwined with concerns over rising crime rates.
Challenges Facing Undocumented Migrants
Two extreme-right candidates are proposing severe measures, threatening to deport all 330,000 undocumented individuals currently living in Chile. Far-right lawyer Jose Antonio Kast has publicly urged migrants to leave voluntarily or face forcible expulsion, potentially losing everything they have built in the country.
Community in Nuevo Amanecer
Approximately 2,000 families, primarily from Haiti, Peru, Venezuela, and Colombia, reside in Nuevo Amanecer (New Dawn), a modest settlement west of Santiago. Many, like Suhey Garcia and her family, journeyed on foot across the Andean highlands, escaping the economic turmoil in their home countries.
Life in Chile: A Fragile Existence
Thirty-year-old Garcia, who fled Venezuela in 2020, articulates her fears. “If they send me back to Venezuela, I have no home there. My children have a stable life in Chile,” she explains. Despite limited resources, residents enjoy running water but lack sewage systems, and their homes are illegally linked to the electrical grid.
Echoes of U.S. Immigration Policies
The proposed mass roundups and deportations by Kast and his far-right rival Johannes Kaiser bear striking similarities to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s campaign strategies. Kast, currently polling in second place behind left-wing candidate Jeannette Jara, is also advocating for enhanced border security measures, including building trenches and deploying troops along Chile’s extensive border with Bolivia.
Rising Concerns Among Migrants
Chile’s migrant population has reached around 8.8% of the total population, doubling in the last seven years. Traditionally, undocumented migrants have lived without significant restrictions, but recent legislative actions have made it increasingly difficult for them to regularize their status. Access to essential services like healthcare and education has been crucial, yet Kast has threatened to cut these if elected.
Voices of Resilience Amidst Uncertainty
Many migrants, including those with legal status, remain anxious about what a far-right victory might mean for their lives. Wilmer Carvajal, a Peruvian immigrant residing in Chile for 13 years, expressed fears that Nuevo Amanecer could be destroyed, leaving families, including children, homeless. “I think it’s unfair because we are all human beings,” Garcia states, emphasizing that most migrants are not criminals. Colombian native Nancy Guevara, who entered Chile as a tourist, echoes the sentiments of many, calling for recognition and support for migrants seeking a better life.
