Security Minister Trinidad Steinert led an immigration enforcement operation in the Recoleta commune, Santiago Metropolitan Region, in the early hours of Wednesday, April 24, 2026. The operation, which began around 5:00 a.m., involved personnel from both the Carabineros and the Investigative Police (PDI).
Enforcement efforts were primarily concentrated along Recoleta Avenue, near the La Vega market. During the deployment, officers conducted random checks on pedestrians and vehicles, requesting identification documents and running license plate numbers to verify the immigration status of those involved.
Additionally, authorities conducted inspections on public transportation units, verifying the identities of passengers. According to reports from CNN Chile, an official tally of the number of people checked has not yet been released, nor have any arrests been confirmed.
Minister Steinert was emphatic regarding the status of foreign nationals who do not comply with current regulations. “If a person entered Chile irregularly, ‘they have to leave,’” the official stated.
The Minister detailed that the objective is to identify those residing in the country and ensure the legality of their stay. “If they have no ties to the community and no reason for their stay here to be necessary or legal, they are leaving,” Steinette emphasized.
The Minister also warned about the detection of individuals with criminal records from other countries. “It could be someone who is working and has no criminal issues, but we have also encountered surprises, where these individuals have prior records in another country. We cannot allow that,” she maintained.
Finally, the Minister underscored the need to regain territorial control. Authorities are expected to provide final details and a complete summary of the operation later this morning.
