The Senate approved a new 90-day extension on Wednesday for the deployment of the Armed Forces in the Northern Macrozone. The measure, backed by 42 votes in favor, extends the military presence in the regions of Arica and Parinacota, Tarapacá and Antofagasta for border security and migration control.
The Chamber of Deputies had previously approved the extension with 141 votes in favor, two against and five abstentions. The measure, which began in February 2023 through Supreme Decree 78, has now been extended 12 times.
Interior Minister Claudio Alvarado highlighted during the session that irregular migrant reconduction tasks reach 73.2 percent effectiveness thanks to the work of the Armed Forces. He also noted a reduction in irregular entries of 37.1 percent in 2025 and 85.1 percent this year.
Several senators spoke during the debate. Francisco Huenchumilla denounced errors in the constitutional text provided for the vote, while Cristián Vial and Vanessa Kaiser supported the extension and called for progress on the rules of force.
