Chile seeks to extend detention for undocumented migrants to 180 days during expulsion process

The Chilean government is set to introduce a significant legislative reform that would drastically extend the legal framework for detaining irregular immigrants. The proposal aims to increase the maximum preventive detention period for undocumented individuals from the current five days to 180 days while their expulsion orders are processed.

President José Antonio Kast, who campaigned on a platform emphasizing border sovereignty and public order, has made managing the migrant population a central focus of his administration. Upon taking office, Kast pledged to expel an estimated 330,000 immigrants without legal residency, whom he has linked to an increase in national insecurity.

During a recent public address, Kast reiterated that strengthening immigration controls and ensuring efficient expulsion processes are strategic priorities. Public Security Minister Martín Arrau specified that the proposed 180-day extension would primarily apply to undocumented foreign nationals who commit offenses within Chilean territory. He argued that the current five-day limit is operationally insufficient for coordinating the necessary consular and transportation logistics for deportations, often resulting in individuals evading subsequent tracking.

Complementing these stricter measures, the executive branch is also advancing a separate bill to classify clandestine entry into Chile as a criminal offense, moving away from its current classification as a mere administrative migratory infraction. In parallel, Kast's administration continues to promote voluntary departure incentives for irregular immigrants, offering full waivers of accumulated fines and guaranteeing no future re-entry bans for those who choose to leave formally through established channels.