Chile's new president has begun work on a border barrier just five days after being sworn into office.
José Antonio Kast appeared at the site along Chile's northern border with Peru on Monday to inspect the trench and chat with construction workers, hailing it as the first step towards meeting his campaign promise to stem illegal immigration.
Only a small portion of the planned barrier has so far been cut into the arid Atacama desert - a ditch a few feet wide and deep.
It is one of several policies of Kast's that echo pledges by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has made constructing a wall at the Mexican border a common refrain at rallies and a crucial part of his own immigration policy.
Echoing his rhetoric on the campaign trail, Kast said Chile had been violated by illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and organized crime, adding that he wanted to use the diggers behind him to build a sovereign Chile.
For all of Chile, this is a milestone, he said while at the site, near the border town of Arica.
Kast has portrayed Chile as a country descending into chaos and insecurity, and prior to his election pledged to restore order and implement sharp spending cuts.
Chile is considered one of the safest and most stable countries in South America; however, a rise in immigration and organized crime has instigated concern among residents.
According to World Bank data, Chile's foreign population has surged from less than 600,000 in 2015 to over 1.5 million in 2024, with estimates suggesting approximately 336,000 of these individuals are undocumented migrants, many from Venezuela.
The trench-digging on Monday signifies the start of the border shield promise that aided Kast in winning the presidency with 58% of the votes in December.
Trenches and fences will compose the barrier, which will be patrolled by military personnel. The Chilean government plans to install surveillance systems and obstacles to deter illegal crossings.
The nation’s border with Peru spans around 180 km and a further 900 km with Bolivia, though its interior ministry has stated that the barrier will only cover roughly half of this.
Kast's election, coming after left-winger Gabriel Boric, marks the most abrupt rightward shift in the nation since the end of its military dictatorship in 1990. He has openly praised the former dictator Augusto Pinochet.
Kast has also shown admiration for Trump and both appear poised to align on various issues, particularly regarding undocumented migration. Kast's supporters have been seen wearing red Make Chile Great Again caps, a nod to Trump's campaign gear.
