The government of Peru has declared a state of emergency along its southern border with Chile. This major step was taken because officials expect a large number of migrants to cross into Peru very soon. This expected surge is being linked to the upcoming presidential election run-off in Chile, where a far-right candidate, Jose Antonio Kast, is favoured to win.

Under the 60-day emergency order, Peru's military will now be sent to reinforce border control in the southern Tacna region. The main reason for this action is to manage the flow of people and also to deal with rising crime in the border area. Many migrants, particularly from Venezuela, are reportedly trying to leave Chile quickly because they fear the strict immigration policies that the hardline candidate has promised to put in place if he becomes president.

Peruvian officials have made it clear that while they seek cooperation with Chile through a special binational committee, they will not accept any more undocumented migrants. The country has already taken in over 1.5 million Venezuelan people since 2015 and says it simply does not have the space or resources to welcome more. This emergency declaration shows the serious regional challenge of migration in South America.