Peru’s government declared a state of emergency at its southern border with Chile on Friday, expecting an influx of people trying to flee far-right candidate Jose Antonio Kast’s potential presidency.
Under the decree, Peru’s military will reinforce border control in the southern Tacna region for 60 days, past Chile’s December 14 run-off election, in which immigration hardliner Kast is facing off against left-wing candidate Jeannette Jara.
The state of emergency will also serve “to address crime and other situations of violence” in the border area.
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“The Peruvian National Police will maintain control of internal order, with support from the Armed Forces,” according to the order.
Peru’s President Jose Jeri announced earlier on Friday that such an action was forthcoming, after dozens of migrants were reported to be stuck at the Chile-Peru border.
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A video posted by the Chilean governor of the Arica border region, around 2,200km (1,370 miles) north of Santiago, showed dozens of people attempting to exit from Chile at the Chacalluta-Santa Rosa border crossing.