Chile's Congress approves fast-track deportation bill targeting 75,000 pending orders

Chile’s Congress gave final endorsement to a bill designed to speed up the removal of undocumented migrants, targeting about 75,000 pending deportation orders. Originally introduced in 2024 during Gabriel Boric’s administration, the measure gained momentum under President José Antonio Kast. It permits the Investigative Police to request written judicial authorization to enter premises and detain those subject to orders, obliging judges to decide within a day.

The legislation raises the minimum exclusion period for deported foreigners from three to five years and broadens the use of biometric records, while excluding information on children under 18 and data from schools and hospitals. Authorities will also gain access to records from public and private entities, except for the excluded categories, to facilitate notifications. Experts say the reform could boost deportations but warn it may strain resources and erode legal protections for migrants.