Chile surpasses 1,100 deportations in 2026 under Kast administration

The government of Chile's President José Antonio Kast reported that 1,174 foreigners have been expelled from the country so far in 2026, following the seventh deportation flight carried out on July 12. The flight removed 40 individuals to Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia Source: infobae.

The operation, conducted using a Chilean Air Force aircraft, transported 28 people expelled through administrative procedures and 12 through judicial orders. Those expelled for criminal reasons included individuals convicted of robbery with violence, robbery with intimidation, weapons possession, drug trafficking, and sexual abuse Source: emolcl. The majority of deportees were Colombian (20), followed by Bolivian (13) and Ecuadorian (7) Source: infobae, emolcl.

Government's pace

Subsecretary of the Interior Máximo Pavez emphasized the administration's efficiency, stating that in just four months they have conducted seven deportation flights, equal to one-third of all flights executed during the previous four-year government Source: infobae. He also noted that the total deportations in 2026 already exceed the number recorded for any single year between 2022 and 2024, and accounts for over 92% of the 2025 total Source: emolcl.

Broader context

Chile currently has over 330,000 irregular migrants Source: infobae. While deportations ramp up, the government also reported 6,384 voluntary departures of irregular migrants this year, with 77% (about 4,896 people) being Venezuelans. However, more than 75,000 deportation orders remain pending, partly due to the rupture of diplomatic relations with Venezuela Source: infobae. The Kast administration is pushing a 'Plan Escudo Fronterizo' including a border trench and a bill to criminalize irregular migration .