On Thursday, the Peruvian police conducted an operational complex at the border with Chile due to an attempt by mainly Haitian and Venezuelan immigrants to cross. According to Peruvian newspaper La República, regarding 200 foreigners, including pregnant women and children, were intercepted by the Peruvian National Police (PNP) before arriving at the Santa Rosa border complex. During the operation, only seven Haitians were able to pass police control because they had their papers issued by the Investigative Police (PDI) in order, so the rest might not continue their return trip to their countries of origin. A source from Migration of Peru reported that apparently, a large part of the rest of the foreigners finally decided to return to Chile. The Government of President Gabriel Boric has introduced measures such as the militarization of the area and leaving undocumented migrants in pretrial detention, causing the exodus of Venezuelans and Haitians.
An operational complex carried out the peruvian police on Thursday at the border with our country, due to an attempt to massive influx of immigrants mainly Haitians and Venezuelans, heading north.
As published by Peruvian newspaper La República, regarding 200 foreigners were intercepted by the Peruvian National Police (PNP) shortly before arriving at Santa Rosa border complex.
The immigrants, including pregnant women and children, intended to cross the border on foot, however, they found the troops who did an identity check on them. And according to the Inca milieu, regarding 40% of the group were minors.
In the operation, which was carried out amid tension due to the number of people and the refusal to let them pass right off the bat, it was discovered that the majority were undocumented.
In fact, only seven Haitians were able to pass police control because they had their papers issued by the Investigative Police (PDI) in order, so the rest might not continue their return trip to their countries of origin.
This, because they were required to have a visa and not just the card, because their countries of origin are not part of Mercosur, nor of the Andean Community, where its citizens -such as Chileans- can enter only carrying their identity card.
A source from Migration of Peru, assured the evening newspaper The second that apparently a large part of the rest of the foreigners finally decided to return to Chile.
“Now there are at least fifty immigrants right on the border line between the border complexes of Chacalluta and Santa Rosa. From what you can see, they are mostly Haitians,” said the source.
“On one side, there is our police and on the other, the Chilean military. Yesterday the proportion was more or less 60-40 percent, mostly Haitians, the rest between Venezuelans, Colombians and Ecuadorians,” she added.
“But this morning, on the way to the border from Tacna, I have seen some Venezuelans on their way to Chile,” he added.
What happened is far from what has been happening in recent years on the northern border of Chile, where the usual thing is to see hundreds of immigrants trying to cross into our country, and not leaving, like what happened this Thursday.
However, the new measures promoted by the Government of President Gabriel Boric, such as the militarization of the area; together with the announcement of the Public Ministry to leave undocumented migrants in pretrial detention, apparently they are causing the exodus of Venezuelans and Haitians.
But their arrival in Peruvian cities is not well received either, especially in Tacna, where, like other Chilean cities such as Arica, Iquique and Colchane, they are experiencing a major crisis in public spaces that are taken over by immigrants.
Let us remember that a similar situation was experienced this week, when more than 300 immigrants of various nationalities entered the Colchane Border Complex following being stranded for long hours in the border area between Chile and Bolivia, being affected by the inclement temperatures of the Altiplano night, especially children and older adults.
According to local authorities in Colchane, the municipal management allowed the government to accommodate the affected people in the migratory response facilities following the large group was prevented from entering Bolivia because they had arrived illegally in Chilean territory.
The president, Gabriel Boric, assured that the military contingent deployed since the end of February, following the implementation of the critical infrastructure law on the borders, has prevented the passage of 7,000 people clandestinely into the country.
Boric has repeatedly reiterated the need to establish regional coordination to deal with migratory flows in the Southern Cone, making special reference to the Venezuelan exodus that to date exceeds more than 6 million people, a movement comparable to the massive flight from Syria and attempts to reach Europe through the Mediterranean.
The situation at the border between Peru and Chile highlights the ongoing challenges of immigration in the region. Despite the efforts of both Peruvian and Chilean authorities, the influx of Haitian and Venezuelan migrants continues to strain resources and create tension. While some migrants were able to cross the border with proper documentation, many remain stranded and uncertain regarding their future. As the crisis continues, it is clear that a coordinated regional approach is needed to effectively manage migratory flows in the Southern Cone.