Kast’s Immigration Policy Creates Uncertainty in Northern Chile

Fears of growing crime

Chile, viewed as a safe haven amid South America’s turmoil, has experienced rising concerns about crime, particularly during Kast’s presidential campaign. Violent crime, including a 135% increase in kidnappings from 2015 to 2025 and a peak in homicides in 2022, has been linked to irregular migration, with many migrants from Venezuela. Despite fears, studies indicate that foreigners in Chile are generally less likely to be arrested than native citizens.