The government will press ahead with the bill extending the detention period for migrants with irregular status and hopes the Senate will place it on next week's agenda, according to La Tercera. Security Minister Martín Arrau announced this on Wednesday during a nationwide operation to check foreign nationals' immigration status.
"It will probably be on the agenda next week so we can move toward a period longer than five days, which would be the next hurdle to overcome so we can move faster than we do today," the minister said.
The initiative seeks to extend the current five-day period the state has to detain, hold and deport a foreign national with irregular status. The source does not specify the new period proposed by the executive branch.
Also on Wednesday, President José Antonio Kast called on the Senate to give the reform "deep consideration". He made the appeal while attending the National Agriculture Meeting (Enagro). "We need the Senate to authorize us to extend the five days we have to detain, hold and deport an irregular immigrant," he said.
The renewed push follows a setback a month ago in the Chamber of Deputies. The bill required a four-sevenths quorum, equivalent to 89 votes. It received 88 votes in favor, 28 against and 19 abstentions, leaving it rejected by a single vote.
La Moneda is now trying to revive the initiative through the upper house. According to La Tercera, whether the discussion takes place next week, on the Senate floor or in the Constitution Committee, will depend on Vlado Mirosevic (PL), who was elected chair of that committee on Wednesday.
Mirosevic took the position after Senator Pedro Araya (PPD) was replaced, a controversial decision made by the Democratic Socialism caucus. The source does not detail the substantive objections raised by those who voted against the bill or abstained in the Chamber of Deputies.
If Mirosevic decides not to put the bill to a vote, Senate President Paulina Núñez (RN) also has the authority to place it on the agenda. Congressional sources cited by the outlet indicate that, as things stand, the initiative is expected to be scheduled for next week.
