• Urgent Action

Urgent Action: REFUGEES AND MIGRANTS FACE CRIMINALIZATION (Chile: UA 41.23)

May 31, 2023

On 10 April 2023, the Commission on Citizen Security of the Chilean Chamber of Deputies began its discussion of a bill that criminalizes refugees and migrants in Chile who lack a regular migratory status. If approved, the law would impose prison sentences to those found guilty of irregular entry and stay in the country. This bill builds on policies and practices in Chile that violate the right to seek asylum and would put refugees and migrants at heightened risk of further human rights violations, including arbitrary detention. We demand the Chilean congress rejects this bill.

TAKE ACTION:
  1. Please take action as-soon-as possible. This Urgent Action expires on June 4th, 2023.
  2. Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them.
  3. Click here to let us know the actions you took on Urgent Action 41.23. It’s important to report because we share the total number with the officials we are trying to persuade and the people we are trying to help.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Mr. Vlado Mirosevic Verdugo President of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile Address: Avenida Pedro Montt s/n Valparaíso, Chile Tel: +56 32 2505942 E-mail: [email protected] Twitter: @vladomirosevic 
Ambassador Juan Gabriel Valdes Embassy of Chile 1732 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036 Phone: 202 785 1746 I Fax: 202 887 5579 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @minrel_chile
SAMPLE LETTER Dear Mr. Vlado Mirosevic, I am deeply alarmed by the bill currently under consideration by the Chilean congress that seeks to criminalize refugees and migrants. This bill, contained in Bulletin No. 15261-25, goes against international refugee and human rights law and international standards, and should be rejected. If the bill is passed, women, men and children arriving to Chile will be punished just for seeking protection or a better life. Chilean authorities have already imposed obstacles to deny people protection in Chile. These include the imposition of entry visas impossible to access, denial of entry at the border, lack of information about the right to request international protection, as well as illegal practices that punish asylum seekers by requesting them to report themselves to the authorities for irregular entry into the country. These measures violate their right to seek asylum and make it virtually impossible to access a regular migratory status or international protection in the country. The current bill constitutes a blatant effort to further limit the rights of refugees and migrants. Entering the country irregularly should never be a crime. We call on you, as President of the Chamber of Deputies, to make your utmost effort to ensure this bill is rejected by the Chilean congress and that any future bills that seek to limit the rights of refugees and migrants in Chile are equally rejected. Yours sincerely, [YOUR NAME] ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
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