During a public statement from Ancud, on the Big Island of Chiloé, political leader José Antonio Kast issued a strong call to President Gabriel Boric to urgently address the complex situation that —according to him— is affecting the country’s northern border, especially in the region of Arica and Parinacota.
Kast stated that the crisis in the north has reached critical levels and questioned whether the government is fully aware of what is happening. “In Arica there is a very complex situation regarding the border issue, and you know that. If they haven’t informed you, I ask that you instruct your advisers to explain what is happening,” he said firmly.
The presidential candidate argued that the magnitude of the problem requires a direct response from the president himself. “It is so serious that today you should take a plane from Punta Arenas to Arica and personally take charge of the situation,” he noted, emphasizing the need for leadership and on-the-ground presence.
Kast also addressed immigrants who are in Chile irregularly. He indicated that, according to his proposal, they would have 103 days to voluntarily leave the country if they do not have their documentation in order. “If at some point you want to enter Chile through the front door, you cannot have any irregularities in our nation,” he said.
The Republican leader warned that if individuals do not regularize their status or do not leave within the proposed timeframe, expulsions would be carried out once he takes office as president, if elected. “If you do not leave voluntarily, you will have to leave after I take office as president, with only what you are wearing,” he declared.
Kast’s statements add to the national debate on immigration, security, and border control — issues that remain priorities on the public agenda and continue to generate discussion both politically and among citizens. His remarks aim to pressure the government to strengthen its presence in the north and provide faster responses to current immigration challenges.
