The Chamber of Deputies of Chile approved and sent to the Senate the project that modifies Law 21. 325 on Migration and Foreigners, aiming to restrict access for irregular immigrants to fiscal benefits. The proposal was generally supported with 95 votes in favor, 48 against, and 7 abstentions.
Subsequently, in a separate vote, a provision of the first article was ratified with 83 favorable votes, 45 against, and 22 abstentions. Essentially, the initiative establishes that the registration of foreigners in the Social Household Registry —or in the instrument that replaces it— will require a valid identity card issued by the Civil Registry and Identification Service. Furthermore, the project stipulates that applying for and accessing benefits financed with public resources will also require this document.
In the case of direct financial contributions, housing subsidies, or rental assistance, permanent residency will also be required. The text also proposes prioritizing healthcare access and educational coverage for national citizens over irregular immigrants, without prejudice to the protection principles outlined in current regulations. Another significant point is that the issuance of identification numbers —temporary or permanent— is prohibited for individuals who have entered the country through unauthorized entry points.
Project Arguments Among its foundations, the initiative warns of an increase of over 3,000% in the population of irregular immigrants in Chile between 2018 and 2023, reaching more than 336,000 people, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and the National Migration Service. The project links this increase to potential risks for public safety, arguing that, in many cases, there is no background information on those entering the country without formal control, beyond self-reporting processes for biometric registration. After its approval in the Chamber, the initiative will now continue its processing in the Senate.