Early Saturday morning, Chile's capital registered celebratory cheers following news from Caracas concerning a U.S. operation involving President Nicolás Maduro. Over 1,000 members of Chile's Venezuelan diaspora gathered in Parque Almagro, Santiago, to express joy and hope for a return to democracy in Venezuela.
Context of Migration
Mary Montesinos, a representative of Venezuela's Voluntad Popular opposition party in Chile, noted the sentiment that the regime would fall and democracy would be restored. However, she also advised caution, stating that the regime, built over 25 years, would take time to dismantle. The United Nations Refugee Agency estimates that 23% of Venezuela's population has fled the country due to an economic crisis, with thousands continuing to leave daily.
Chile has become a significant destination for these migrants. Montesinos, who arrived in 2003, observed the growth of the Venezuelan community from a small group to one large enough to support shops selling Venezuelan products across Chile.
Venezuelan Presence in Chile
Venezuelans constitute the largest foreign group in Chile, with 669,000 registered in the 2024 census, significantly outnumbering other diasporas. The majority of this population is under 45 years old.
This influx has led to pushback from some Chileans. Montesinos indicated that media reports often highlight the nationality of foreign perpetrators when crimes occur, contributing to a negative perception of Venezuelan migration. Chile's president-elect, José Antonio Kast, won the December elections on a platform that linked illegal migration to public insecurity. Kast has proposed aggressive policies for detaining and deporting illegal migrants, of whom an estimated 334,000 are Venezuelans.
Political Reactions and Future Hopes
Kast welcomed the U.S. intervention, while outgoing President Gabriel Boric expressed a more cautious stance on external intervention in other countries' affairs.
Roberto Becerra, a 43-year-old Venezuelan who arrived in Chile in 2017 due to safety concerns related to his political activities, helped organize voting stations in Santiago for Venezuela's 2024 presidential elections. He emphasized the role of the diaspora in making visible the situation in Venezuela.
Despite ongoing uncertainty, many in the diaspora express nostalgia and a desire to return home. Montesinos stated she would return if there were a call to help rebuild Venezuela, viewing it as an inspiring opportunity.