Border Control, COVID-19, and the Criminalization of Irregularized Migration in Chile

This chapter explores the evolution of border control in Chile, with a focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the criminalization of irregular migration. It begins by examining the growing relationship between migration policies and the criminal justice system, a phenomenon known as crimmigration. The chapter outlines how Chile’s border control strategies, which have traditionally aimed to restrict and monitor migration, were significantly intensified during the pandemic. These measures, including closing borders and increasing the number of deportations, disproportionately affected Venezuelan nationals fleeing a humanitarian crisis. The chapter analyzes the intersection of administrative and criminal practices in managing human mobility, highlighting how the pandemic served as a catalyst for expanding state control over migrants. The chapter concludes by discussing the broader implications of these measures for the rights and security of migrants, arguing that Chile’s approach exacerbated irregular migration rather than mitigating it.