Desperate Migrants Abandon Possessions, Risk Perilous desert Crossing Fleeing Chile
ATACAMA DESERT, CHILE – A growing number of undocumented migrants are abandoning newly purchased belongings and embarking on treacherous journeys across teh Atacama Desert, driven by escalating fears of deportation from Chile.The exodus highlights the precarious situation facing individuals who, despite accessing some social services, live under the constant threat of expulsion.
The surge in departures underscores a deepening humanitarian concern as migrants, many having invested in establishing lives in Chile, now prioritize evading authorities over protecting their limited assets. While Chile permits undocumented migrants access to healthcare and public education for their children, the looming possibility of being expelled-and losing everything they’ve acquired-is prompting a desperate flight. This situation reflects broader regional migration patterns,with individuals fleeing economic hardship and political instability in their home countries,only to encounter new vulnerabilities in transit and destination nations.
Venezuelan national Billy González, who arrived in Chile approximately one year ago-around November 2023-with his wife and two teenage children, voiced a common anxiety. “I understand that criminals have left my country, but also good people who want to work,” González lamented. He expressed concern that any sudden deportation operation woudl result in the confiscation of recently acquired necessities. “If I buy a refrigerator, a stove, and suddenly they carry out an operation (…) they are not going to take me to my house to look for what is mine, what I have worked hard for,” he stated.
The decision to flee is often made abruptly, leaving migrants to traverse harsh desert terrain on foot, relying on limited resources.The Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth, presents extreme challenges, including scorching temperatures during the day and plummeting temperatures at night. While precise figures on the number of migrants attempting this crossing are unavailable, anecdotal evidence suggests a significant increase in recent weeks.
