Chile adopts law easing deportations of undocumented migrants

Chile's Congress has approved a law that simplifies the deportation of migrants who are staying in the country without legal status.

Under the new measure, police — acting on a court order — will be authorized to enter the homes of individuals who have received orders to leave the country. Authorities will also be able to request information from state institutions about migrants who lack regular status so they can be located and contacted.

Origins and political backing

The bill was originally submitted in 2024 by the administration of then-leftist president Gabriel Boric and later received backing from his successor from the far right, José Antonio Kast. The new head of state, who took office this spring, highlighted the deportation of more than 330,000 undocumented migrants as a central point of his program.

Despite that pledge, in the first six months of his four-year term José Antonio Kast has deported only 1,800 people — mainly citizens of Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia. Most undocumented migrants in Chile, however, come from Venezuela.

Tense relations between Chile and Venezuela have complicated the government's ability to carry out its migration policy, and authorities say locating and repatriating nationals is often slowed when cooperation with origin countries is limited.

Photo: press material from the event