Fear of crime on the rise
For migrants fleeing violence and crisis in other parts of South America, Chile is a symbol of relative prosperity.
The country is considered one of the safest countries in Latin America, and its gross domestic product (GDP) is among the top five in the region.
But during his presidential campaign, Mr. Casto capitalized on concerns about instability in Chile, where violent crime has soared in recent years.
Although rare, kidnappings increased by 135 percent between 2015 and 2025, according to a security report from OSAC, a partnership led by the U.S. State Department.
Homicide incidents will peak in 2022 after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, with 1,330 victims reported out of a population of about 20 million. After that, the number decreased.
Still, Casto and his supporters believe this increase is due to a parallel increase in irregular immigration.
“Thousands of foreigners are entering the country illegally, without restrictions or identification. Many of them bring violence, weapons, and criminal networks with them,” Kast wrote as part of his campaign platform.
According to the country’s government, an estimated 336,984 foreigners live in Chile without legal documentation. The majority, around 252,591, are from Venezuela, which has experienced economic collapse and political repression in recent years.
This influx coincides with the expansion of transnational criminal networks such as Venezuela’s Torren de Aragua, which has established a foothold in Arica y Parinacota.
Still, studies have repeatedly shown that foreigners living in Chile are generally less likely to be arrested or prosecuted than mainland-born citizens.
