Chile's New President Breaks Ground on Border Barrier Days Into Office

Chile's president begins building border barrier less than week into term

3/17/2026, 3:49:46 PM en source ↗

Summary

Chilean President José Antonio Kast visited the country's northern border less than a week after taking office to personally oversee the start of construction on a border ditch designed to curb irregular migration. The trench, a few feet wide and deep, was hailed by Kast as a "milestone" in his administration's hardline immigration agenda. The move signals a sharp shift in Chile's approach to border management under the new right-wing president.

Preview

José Antonio Kast visited the ditch - a few feet wide and deep - on Monday, calling it a "milestone".