Chile Begins Construction of Border Barrier System in Atacama Desert
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Chile has begun constructing a trench and barrier system along its northern border with Peru and Bolivia as part of President José Antonio Kast's 'border shield' plan. The project aims to seal vulnerable stretches of the frontier in the Atacama Desert and includes surveillance technology. Official data shows a decrease in illegal entry attempts since the plan was announced.
Facts First
- Construction of a 11-kilometre trench is underway on Chile's border with Peru, with over half the work completed.
- The 'border shield' plan includes ditches, fences, surveillance cameras, sensors, radars, and drones.
- Illegal entry attempts decreased from around 2,460 in 2024 to 1,746 in 2025 according to police data.
- President Kast's government has sent bills to congress to criminalise illegal entry and limit immigrants' access to social security.
- Two additional ditches are being dug on the border with Bolivia.
What Happened
Chilean military excavators are digging a deep trench across the pampa on Chile's northernmost border with Peru. The trench is being dug three metres deep, with earth being dumped into a rising embankment. Cristián Sayes, President Kast's delegate in Chile's northernmost administrative region, stated that 53.6% progress has been made, representing approximately six kilometres of the planned 11-kilometre ditch. A second ditch in the mountains will stretch for seven kilometres, and two additional ditches are being dug on the border with Bolivia. In March, President Kast announced the 'border shield' plan, which aims to seal vulnerable stretches of the 1,200-kilometre border Chile shares with Peru and Bolivia in the Atacama Desert.
Why this Matters to You
If you live in Chile, this project could affect border security and immigration policy. The government's stated goal is to reduce illegal entry, which may lead to changes in how migration is managed. The plan's next phase includes surveillance equipment like thermal cameras and drones, which could alter border monitoring operations. The Kast government has also sent bills to congress that, if passed, would criminalise illegal entry and limit immigrants' access to social security benefits, potentially changing the legal landscape for migrants and the services available to them.
What's Next
The first phase of the plan, which includes short trench sections along exposed frontier parts, is underway. The next phase of the plan includes the installation of surveillance equipment as described by Cristián Sayes. The two bills sent to congress to criminalise illegal entry and limit social security access for immigrants will proceed through the legislative process, where their fate will be determined. Further construction of the additional ditches on the Bolivia border is likely to continue.