Chile’s Conservative President Begins Building Border Wall to Stop Immigration

Chile's newly elected conservative President José Antonio Kast has started construction on a border barrier with Peru, fulfilling a key campaign promise. The project, dubbed the 'Border Shield' plan, aims to stop illegal immigration and drug trafficking through physical barriers, trenches, and military patrols.

SANTIAGO, Chile — Chile’s newly elected conservative President José Antonio Kast has moved quickly to fulfill one of his most prominent campaign pledges.

Just days after taking office, Kast traveled to the northern border region of Chacalluta on Monday to launch construction of a barrier designed to prevent unauthorized border crossings from Peru. The area has become a major entry point for migrants seeking to reach one of South America’s most economically stable countries.

Kast outlined his comprehensive ‘Border Shield’ initiative, which includes building physical obstacles such as trenches and fencing along Chile’s northern frontier. The plan also calls for drone surveillance and military personnel to monitor the border zone.

The initial work appeared modest, with a single bulldozer visible cutting through desert terrain to create a trench.

However, Kast emphasized the significance of the moment, telling reporters that “for all of Chile, this is a milestone.”

“We have taken clear and concrete decisions to close our border to illegal immigration, drug trafficking and organized crime,” he stated. “We want to implement this without any delay.”

Similar to his political ally, former U.S. President Donald Trump, Kast has utilized executive authority during his first week in office to sign multiple orders focused on strengthening border enforcement and removing individuals who entered the country without authorization.

Chile has experienced significant demographic changes, with its immigrant population growing by 100% from 2017 to 2024. Officials estimate that more than 300,000 undocumented foreigners currently reside in Chile, with many originating from Venezuela.

While many newcomers are families escaping political turmoil and economic hardship, criminal organizations from Venezuela and other nations have also established operations in Chile recently. Despite Chile maintaining relatively low murder rates compared to regional neighbors, incidents including vehicle thefts, abductions, and targeted killings have become more common, creating public anxiety and leading some citizens to associate these problems with recent immigration.

Kast’s election represents Chile’s sharpest conservative shift since 1990, when the nation returned to democratic governance following nearly two decades of military dictatorship under General Augusto Pinochet — a regime Kast supported during his younger years.