The Chilean government seeks to encourage the orderly departure of foreigners who remain in the country without documentation, offering a mechanism without penalties for those who choose to return to their countries of origin.
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The Chilean government officially launched the so-called Voluntary Departure Plan, an initiative aimed at migrants who are in an illegal situation and wish to leave the country voluntarily. The measure is part of the immigration strategy promoted by President José Antonio Kast to address illegal immigration and strengthen border control.
According to the National Migration Service, those who entered Chile through unauthorized crossings or evading immigration controls, as well as those who entered legally with temporary permits or tourist visas but remained in the country after the authorized period expired, will be able to apply for the program.
José Antonio Kast with President Nayib Bukele
One of the main incentives of the plan is that those who leave Chile voluntarily will not face immigration or economic penalties. Additionally, the process will be free and will allow interested parties to attempt to return to the country through the appropriate legal channels in the future.
President Kast presented the initiative as an alternative that combines firmness in immigration control with a humanitarian exit for those in an illegal situation. The president stated that many people have been victims of human trafficking networks, deception, or exploitation by transnational organized crime.
From the Ministry of the Interior, they warned that those who decide not to participate in the program will remain subject to expulsion procedures and the penalties outlined by Chilean legislation. The government aims for the mechanism to reduce pressure on immigration systems and advance the regularization of the situation of thousands of foreigners who currently remain outside the legal framework.
Chilean police at the border with Bolivia
The measure comes in a context where irregular immigration has become one of the central topics of the Chilean political debate. During the presidential campaign, Kast promised to tighten immigration policies and strengthen border control, especially in the north of the country.
For the government, the new plan represents an additional tool within a broader strategy aimed at regaining immigration control, reducing illegal immigration, and facilitating orderly returns for those who wish to go back to their countries without facing administrative penalties.
