An initiative called “Border Shield” has been launched, a plan aimed at strengthening controls in the north of the country, particularly on the borders with Peru and Bolivia. The central objective is to curb irregular immigration and combat transnational crime networks operating in the area
The Executive points out that the measure does not seek to militarize the area, but rather to modernize control mechanisms. Defense Minister Fernando Barros explained that the purpose is to ensure that those who enter the country do so by legal means and in compliance with the procedures established by the State. As he argued, it is an approach based on technological efficiency and institutional coordination
. Chilean police blocking the border with Bolivia.
The reinforcement of security also responds to the growth of organized crime in the region. Chilean and Bolivian authorities maintain that, in addition to illegal drug trafficking, there is a constant flow of stolen or undocumented vehicles crossing the border. It is estimated that more than 120,000 cars have entered Bolivia from Chile in recent years, generating enormous profits for criminal organizations that operate on an international scale
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Added to this situation is concern about the increase in people residing in Chile without regular documentation. Various reports indicate that more than 300,000 individuals are currently in this condition, which represents a challenge both for the security system and for the country's immigration administration
. José Antonio Kast, current president of Chile.
In that context, President José Antonio Kast has presented these policies as part of a larger effort to restore institutional order. The president has defined his administration as an “emergency government”, determined to simultaneously face problems of security, migration and the functioning of the State
