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Peru has officially announced a state of emergency along its southern border with Chile over a surge of Migrants attempting to enter the country.

Getting into it: The state of emergency was declared by President José Jerí after witnessing a rapid spike in migrants attempting to cross from Chile into Peru. Jerí, a right-leaning leader who recently assumed office after Dina Boluarte’s impeachment, argued that the influx of illegal migrants poses a threat to public safety and requires immediate militarized enforcement. He argued that the emergency designation is meant to “generate tranquility” and prevent unauthorized entry, while also authorizing the deployment of armed forces to assist police and to expand identity checks along the border.

Peruvian officials say the situation escalated over the past several days as images emerged of migrant families (mostly Venezuelans) gathering at the Tacna–Arica crossing and demanding entry into Peru. Local authorities reported road blockages, stranded crowds, and growing tensions as migrants sought passage. Officials in Tacna described cars and trucks backed up for long distances, with some migrants halting all vehicle movement to pressure authorities to allow them through. Peru’s government claims the state of emergency is necessary to restore order and prevent the border from being overwhelmed.

Chile, meanwhile, argues that the surge is closely tied to domestic politics ahead of the December 14 presidential runoff. Far-right frontrunner José Antonio Kast has filmed multiple campaign videos at the Chile–Peru border, warning illegal migrants that they have only “days left” to leave Chile voluntarily before facing detention or mass expulsion.

Chilean officials have pushed back on Kast’s rhetoric, with Security Minister Luis Cordero warning that such statements “have consequences” and should not be used to stoke electoral controversy. Chile’s foreign ministry also stressed that a presidential candidate cannot speak for the Chilean government.