Peru Declares State of Emergency Along Southern Border Amid Surge of Venezuelan Migrants from Chile
Peru's President José Jarí announced plans to declare a state of emergency along the country's southern border and increase military presence due to a surge of Venezuelan migrants moving north from Chile. The migrants, mostly without legal status in Chile, are fleeing economic hardship and authoritarian rule in Venezuela. Chile's presidential candidate, José Antonio Kast, has capitalized on anti-immigrant sentiment, vowing to crack down on immigration and deport those without legal status. This has led to a rush of migrant families crossing into Peru, prompting President Jarí to enhance border controls and security measures, declaring a state of emergency in the region. The situation has caused chaos in Chile's northern border towns, with many migrants stranded in limbo. The exact number of migrants leaving Chile is unknown, but the government is working to prevent a humanitarian crisis and address the growing tensions surrounding immigration policies.