Bolivian immigrants stranded at the border

More than a hundred Bolivian irregular immigrants were stranded on the northern border of Chile because they had not reported their entry into Chilean soil nor did they have the necessary safe-conduct to leave it, the migration authority reported on Wednesday.

Chilean immigration legislation establishes that immigrants who enter through border crossings must “voluntarily” report themselves to the civil police and show an identity document from their country. To leave again, an authorization from the National Migration Service is required.

The event occurred in the vicinity of Colchane, a small town 1,900 kilometers north of the Chilean capital and 3,700 meters above sea level, in an area with a desert climate with high temperatures during the day and cold below zero at night.

The immigrants tried to leave the country on Tuesday afternoon and, unable to do so, were stranded in the cold night. After some efforts by municipal authorities, around midnight they were admitted to a reception center for those who report themselves.

The director of Health of the municipality of Colchane, Yolanda Flores, told local media that they provided care to pregnant women, children and those affected by the altitude.

Initially, the municipality denounced that the stranded were about 300 Venezuelans, Bolivians and Colombians, a figure that was reduced to just over a hundred by the director of the National Migration Service, Luis Thayer.

He specified that those affected are 109 Bolivians, of whom 89 entered clandestinely and did not report themselves, in addition to a small group without any identity document and 19 children.

He added that the situation of minors will be reported to a family court, which must authorize their departure after ruling out that they are not in a situation of trafficking or kidnapping minors.

Police were conducting the relevant self-report procedures on Wednesday, Thayer said.

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