President José Antonio Kast oversaw the start of Escudo Fronterizo plan works on Monday at Chacalluta border complex in Arica, featuring trenches up to three meters deep to curb irregular migration. The initiative divides Chilean opposition and prompts reactions from Peru and Bolivia. Ministers outlined 500 km coverage along the northern border.
On Monday, March 16, 2026, President José Antonio Kast arrived in Arica y Parinacota to lead a security committee at Solo de Zaldívar military base, joined by ministers including Trinidad Steinert (Public Security), Claudio Alvarado (Interior), and Fernando Barros (Defense). He then visited Chacalluta, where the Army and Ministry of Public Works began excavations with backhoes as part of the Escudo Fronterizo Plan, a campaign promise to halt irregular immigration, drug trafficking, and organized crime via trenches, walls, sensors, and drones across 500 km of northern border (210 km with Bolivia, 89 km with Peru). In Arica, expansion from 3 km to 30 km in 90 days features trenches 2.5-3 m deep, 3 m wide, and 1.4 m earth mounds; 700 troops deployed, machinery since prior Friday. Works by Cuerpo Militar del Trabajo include 5 m electrified fences, 500 trucks, and 20 heavy machines. Kast stated: “This backhoe will not fail, because all Chileans are pushing this backhoe” and “we want to use backhoes to build a sovereign Chile”. Alvarado announced bills to penalize transporters of irregular migrants. Opposition divided: Frente Amplio (FA) calls it “marketing measures”, noting 54% drop in irregular entries under Boric; Constanza Martínez said “it has nothing novel”; Diego Ibáñez urged continuing prior deployments. Supporters Jaime Araya (PPD) and Sebastián Videla (Liberal): “a signal against criminals”. Juan Santana (PS) sought serious measures. In Peru, Tacna governor Luis Ramón Torres requested Lima's support; Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela saw benefits. In Bolivia, Foreign Minister Fernando Aramayo said it does not affect dialogue, but ex-presidents Eduardo Rodríguez Veltzé and Evo Morales questioned it over 1904 Treaty.
