The administration of Chilean President José Antonio Kast has moved to fulfill a central campaign promise by launching its first aerial deportation operation this Thursday, April 16, 2026. The initiative targets individuals in an irregular migratory status, signaling a hardline shift in the government’s approach to border security and national safety.
The first flight of irregular migrants departing from Santiago will transport 40 individuals to Colombia, Ecuador, and potentially Bolivia Cooperativa. This operation is designed to address a significant backlog of administrative orders and serves as a strategic move to combat organized crime and reinforce border controls.
According to official reports, the flight will originate in the capital and include a stop in Iquique before proceeding to its destinations in Colombia and Ecuador T13. The move comes amid mounting political pressure to deliver on the president’s promises regarding the expedited removal of non-citizens who do not meet legal residency requirements.
The government has indicated that this is only the beginning of a broader strategy. Future plans include the implementation of at least two additional flights per month, as well as the utilize of buses to transport deportees toward neighboring border countries T13.
Targeting Criminality and Organized Crime
A primary justification for these expedited removals is the link between irregular migration and the rise of organized crime. The Executive branch has specified that a majority of the 40 individuals on this first flight have existing judicial orders for serious offenses Cooperativa.
The crimes associated with those being deported include:
- Drug trafficking
- Human trafficking
- Weapon possession
- Robbery and theft
Authorities view these measures as essential for restoring public safety and disrupting the networks of international criminal organizations that may utilize irregular migration routes to establish operations within Chile BioBioChile.
Addressing the Migration Backlog
The current administration inherits a complex administrative landscape. Prior to the conclude of former President Gabriel Boric’s term, the National Migration Service reported that more than 75,000 administrative expulsion orders remained pending T13.
Data from the Migration Service highlights a fluctuating trend in deportations over recent years. While administrative expulsion orders increased by 67% and general expulsion orders rose by 87%, actual deportations had decreased by 32% compared to the second term of former President Sebastián Piñera, who saw 6,668 deportations T13. During the Boric administration, that number dropped further to 4,544 T13.
The Migration Service attributed these difficulties to two primary factors: budget limitations and a breakdown in diplomatic relations with Venezuela. Venezuelan citizens represent 50% of the pending expulsion orders, making their removal particularly challenging due to the lack of official cooperation from Caracas T13.
Strategic Implications and Next Steps
The launch of this flight is viewed by the Kast administration as a “decisive step” in implementing the pillars of its governing program Cooperativa. By prioritizing the removal of those with criminal records, the government aims to demonstrate a tangible link between migration control and the reduction of crime.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date of Operation | Thursday, April 16, 2026 |
| Number of Deportees | 40 individuals |
| Departure Point | Santiago (with stop in Iquique) |
| Destinations | Colombia, Ecuador, and potentially Bolivia |
| Primary Focus | Irregular status and criminal records |
The government’s next scheduled action involves the ramp-up of these operations to a frequency of at least two flights per month, supplemented by land-based removals via bus to border nations T13.
We will continue to monitor the execution of these flights and any official updates from the National Migration Service regarding the remaining backlog of expulsion orders. We invite our readers to share their perspectives on these policy shifts in the comments section below.