A Shift Toward Hardline Policies
Chilean President José Antonio Kast unveiled a series of new security and immigration control measures during his first State of the Nation address to Congress this Monday. Less than three months into his term, the president is looking to reverse a slide in his approval ratings with an agenda centered on a crackdown on crime and irregular migration.
Key among the executive’s new proposals is the creation of an official "vandal" registry and a plan to extend detention periods for migrants. According to reports from France 24, these measures are intended to solidify the tough-on-security stance that has defined the start of his administration.
The Voluntary Departure Plan
Meanwhile, the National Director of the Migration Service, Frank Sauerbaum, outlined the details of the "voluntary departure plan" in comments to Cooperativa. The scheme is specifically targeted at the 252,000 individuals currently registered in the country. According to Sauerbaum, the goal is to avoid the high costs the Chilean state currently incurs for forced deportations, for which Congress has approved a limited budget.
The voluntary departure program aims to waive two penalties stipulated under Law 21.325: fines ranging from 400,000 to 500,000 pesos for those who have overstayed their visas, and a five-year re-entry ban for those who entered through unauthorized border crossings. Sauerbaum clarified that the process will not be state-funded; migrants must cover their own travel costs. Those who wish to return to the country after participating in the scheme will be evaluated based on their ties to Chile, with priority given to individuals with family, employment, or business ventures that demonstrate a contribution to the country.
Internal Disarray
The government's strategy has shown signs of internal friction. Following the presidential address, Security Minister Martín Arrau mentioned plans to introduce a bill that would allow for the 180-day detention of migrants who refuse the voluntary departure option and subsequently commit crimes. However, Migration Director Frank Sauerbaum distanced himself from those remarks, stating: "I don't know what bill Minister Arrau is talking about. It has nothing to do with this program."
Sauerbaum clarified that the 180-day period mentioned by the minister refers not to a detention measure, but to the window of time allotted for applying to the Return Plan. This public discrepancy highlights the tensions within the new government’s migration policy design at a critical juncture in his administration.
