Chile's presidential runoff overshadowed by concerns about migration and crime

Crime and migration are taking center stage in Chiles presidential election runoff, particularly in the northern border city of Arica, where residents say a sense of security has eroded. The December 14 vote will see leftist candidate Jeannette Jara face far-right contender Jose Antonio Kast, who currently leads in the polls and has pledged to remove hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants from the country.

Kast's strict security measures have resonated strongly in Arica, situated on the border with Peru, where violent crime has increased and foreign gangs have become more visible, according to local accounts. Around 10 kilometers from the city, one of Chiles busiest border crossings sees approximately 5,000 people daily, including Chileans, Peruvians, and Bolivians. Since 2020, however, a significant number of undocumented migrants, primarily Venezuelans fleeing economic and political turmoil, have arrived. Official figures from the Migration Service indicate their numbers grew from 200 in 2018 to 5,000 in 2023.

Residents say this influx has disrupted Aricas once peaceful environment. Paloma Cortes, 27, a makeup vendor, shared that public spaces have become unsafe: Before, you could go to the beach at night and walk home. Now, you can't.

Many migrants find work in services, but some have brought criminal activity. The Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua has reportedly engaged in kidnappings, extortion, and killings, occupying abandoned houses in neighborhoods like Cerro Chuno. Security guard Alfonso Aguayo, 49, noted, Contract killings, kidnappingsthese were things that didnt exist before.

Aricas homicide rate surged from 5.7 per 100,000 residents in 2019 to 17.5 in 2022, nearly triple the national average. Law enforcement disrupted the gangs leadership in 2022, uncovering a torture site and human remains. Courts sentenced 34 gang members last March to a total of 560 years. While the homicide rate fell to 9.9 in 2023, it remains above the national average, and public concerns continue.

In the first round of the presidential election, right-wing candidates captured three-quarters of the vote in Arica. Economist Franco Parisi, third nationwide, led locally with proposals to expel irregular migrants and fortify the border. Kast promises to deport 337,000 undocumented migrants and construct a border trench as part of his anti-crime strategy.

Despite public anxiety, migrants are also valued contributors. Fermin Burgos, 75, a retired teacher, emphasized, Insecurity is not about immigration but about peoples goodness or wickedness, noting that his family employs two undocumented Venezuelan waitresses. Irregular migrants can access healthcare, send children to public schools, and work in informal sectors without facing authorities. Fernair Rondo, 35, a Venezuelan store clerk, added, It used to be safer, but a few ruin it for everyone.

Foreign-born professionals also play a key role in healthcare. Nationwide, 5.8% of doctors are immigrants. Claudia Villegas, Aricas municipal health director, explained, In extreme areas like ours, local graduates cannot meet demand.

Author: Noah Whitman