Peru is bracing for a potential humanitarian crisis after President José Jeri announced he will declare a state of emergency along the country’s southern border with Chile. The move comes amid a sudden spike in migrant crossings—driven largely by Venezuelans fleeing uncertainty in Chile ahead of its December 14 presidential run-off.

The political backdrop is tense. Chilean far-right frontrunner José Antonio Kast has centered his campaign on promises to detain and deport undocumented migrants, warning in a viral border-side video that they have “111 days to leave”before he takes office, should he win. His rhetoric has triggered panic and pushed many migrants to rush north into Peru.

President Jeri—himself a hardline conservative who took power in October after Dina Boluarte’s impeachment—said the emergency measure aims to restore “tranquility” and protect public safety. Peruvian police reported around 100 peoplewaiting to cross on Friday, but media images show long lines of families camped at the frontier.

Authorities in both countries are now scrambling to respond. Chile’s security minister condemned Kast’s campaign tactics, warning that political stunts “have consequences” and risk sparking exactly the kind of regional crisis human rights groups fear.

With Peru preparing to deploy additional troops and Chile’s election only weeks away, the border is shaping up to be the latest flashpoint in South America’s ongoing migration challenges—one where political messaging, economic instability, and human desperation collide in real time.