Peru declared a state of emergency on its border with Chile, and announced that it would strengthen customs controls with the help of the armed forces, in anticipation of an increase in the number of illegal immigrants, as well as to combat crime, according to a decree approved by the government on Friday.
- Read also: Former President Castillo was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for a failed coup attempt in Peru
The measure will remain in effect for 60 days and will be applied to the border areas of Palca, Tacna and La Yarda-Los Palos in the Tacna region (south), in anticipation of a possible influx of migrants seeking to leave Chile due to the possible victory of the far-right presidential candidate José Antonio Cast, who has promised to expel illegal immigrants.
The decree stated that the state of emergency would also work to “combat crime and other violent situations.” “The Peruvian National Police maintains control of internal order with the support of the armed forces,” he added.
Peruvian Interior Minister Vicente Tiburcio traveled to the border in Tacna, where he told RPP radio that “the state of emergency will remain in effect for 60 days,” starting on November 29.
The minister indicated that fifty army soldiers would be deployed “immediately” at the Santa Rosa border point in Peru. He added that 50 other soldiers will join them in the first days of next December.
Peruvian radio station Radio Tacna broadcast images early in the morning of migrants carrying children on the highway near the border crossing.
Earlier, Chilean Security Minister Luis Cordero stated that “there is a concentration of migrants who want to leave the country and find it difficult to enter Peru.” The Chilean minister did not specify the number of migrants gathered at the site.
The ultra-conservative Kast, who is the favorite to win the second round of the Chilean elections on December 14 against leftist Janet Jara, has promised to expel 330,000 illegal immigrants, most of them Venezuelans, whom he accuses of causing a wave of insecurity.