On November 29, 2025, the Peruvian government took a dramatic step to address mounting regional anxiety: it declared a 60-day state of emergency along its southern border with Chile. The decision, confirmed by President José Jerí and detailed in an official decree, comes as Peru braces for a potential surge of migrants fleeing Chile ahead of that country’s pivotal presidential runoff on December 14. With fears running high that far-right candidate José Antonio Kast could win the election, Peruvian officials have moved swiftly to reinforce border security and signal their stance on irregular migration.
The emergency order, as reported by Reuters and multiple regional news outlets, grants Peru’s military a supporting role alongside the National Police in the Tacna region—an area that has become a focal point for migrants seeking to cross from Chile. The 60-day period, which stretches beyond Chile’s election, is designed to give Peruvian authorities the legal and logistical tools to manage both the flow of people and rising crime in the border zone. "The Peruvian National Police will maintain control of internal order, with support from the Armed Forces," the decree states, according to the Associated Press.
The urgency of the move is rooted in the tense political climate south of the border. Kast, a former member of parliament making his third run for the presidency, has built his campaign around a hardline immigration stance. In a video message posted at the border, Kast warned undocumented migrants in Chile that they had exactly 103 days—until March 11, 2026, when the next president is sworn in—to leave the country voluntarily. "If you don’t leave voluntarily, we will detain you, retain you, expel you, and you’ll leave with what you have on," Kast declared, as cited by Reuters and local Peruvian media. The ultimatum sent shockwaves through migrant communities, especially among the estimated 330,000 undocumented migrants currently residing in Chile.
The impact of Kast’s rhetoric has already been felt on the ground. In recent days, at least 100 foreigners—mostly Venezuelans, according to Peruvian police General Arturo Valverde—have gathered at the Chile-Peru border, seeking to cross into Peruvian territory. Many were previously turned away after failing to pass through the Chacalluta Border Complex, a crossing point near Arica, Chile, roughly 2,200 kilometers north of Santiago. Videos and images broadcast by Radio Tacna and other outlets have shown migrants, some carrying children, walking along the highway near the border, their belongings in tow.
One Venezuelan migrant, speaking anonymously to The Clinic, described the anxiety gripping those at the crossing: "We are leaving Chile for fear that they would remove us by force if Kast becomes president. They don’t want to let us into Peru." The sentiment is echoed by others who, facing the threat of expulsion, have chosen to leave Chile preemptively rather than risk being forcibly removed under a new administration.
Peruvian authorities, for their part, have responded with a combination of caution and firmness. President Jerí emphasized that the state of emergency "will generate tranquility before the risk of migrants entering without authorization," as he posted on X, formerly Twitter. General Valverde confirmed that surveillance at the border had been intensified even before the emergency declaration, with military forces expected to deploy to key crossing points to prevent unauthorized entry. The government’s approach, officials say, is not only about migration but also about addressing crime and violence in the region—issues that have become intertwined with the broader migration debate.
Peru’s Foreign Minister, Hugo de Zela, announced that a binational migration cooperation committee would begin work the week after the emergency was declared, aiming to coordinate policy responses with Chile. However, de Zela was unequivocal about Peru’s limits: "We will not allow irregular migration. We do not have the conditions or capacity to receive more migrants," he told reporters. Since 2015, more than 1.5 million Venezuelans have arrived in Peru, fleeing a deepening humanitarian and political crisis at home—a migration wave that has already stretched the country’s resources and infrastructure to the brink.
The situation at the border, then, is not just a question of logistics but a test of political will and humanitarian response across the region. Peru has long served as both a destination and a transit country for migrants from across Latin America, many of whom pass through on their way to Chile, which has historically been seen as one of the continent’s most stable and prosperous nations. Now, with political rhetoric in Chile fueling fears and prompting reverse migration, the dynamics have shifted dramatically.
As the December 14 runoff approaches, the stakes are high for all parties involved. Kast’s opponent, left-wing candidate Jeannette Jara, has offered a starkly different vision for Chile, but it is Kast’s promises—and threats—that have dominated headlines and shaped the actions of migrants and governments alike. The Peruvian government’s swift declaration of emergency powers reflects both the immediacy of the threat and the broader regional pressures that elections and policy shifts can trigger.
Observers note that the current crisis is emblematic of larger trends playing out across South America, where political instability, economic hardship, and shifting migration policies have created a volatile mix. The Peru-Chile border, once a relatively quiet crossing, has become a flashpoint for these broader forces. As families with children camp out near checkpoints and authorities ramp up patrols, the human cost of political decisions becomes ever more visible.
For now, the 60-day state of emergency stands as Peru’s answer to an unfolding crisis—one that may well extend beyond the immediate election cycle. Whether the binational committee and reinforced border controls will be enough to manage the pressures remains to be seen. What is clear is that the intersection of politics, security, and migration at the Peru-Chile border will continue to demand attention, compassion, and, perhaps most of all, cooperation in the weeks and months ahead.
The coming days will test not only Peru’s resolve but the region’s capacity for humane and effective policy in the face of relentless change.
