Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Santiago (Agenzia Fides) - “The right to social benefits precedes immigration status,” said Cardinal Fernando Chomalì, Archbishop of Santiago, Chile, referring to a statement issued by Red Clamor Chile, which expressed its concern about a draft law that aims to restrict the access of undocumented migrants to state benefits.
In the statement, sent to Fides, Red Clamor emphasizes that the draft law, currently being debated in the Chilean parliament, restricts fundamental social rights and could jeopardize access to healthcare, education, and social security for migrant families in Chile. The statement was signed by Sister Gabriela Herrera, Executive Secretary of “Red Clamor” in Chile, and Bishop Moisés Atisha of San Marcos de Arica, who reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to migrants and refugees. Such restrictions contradict “human dignity and the recognition of the family as the core of society,” the network warns.
“Red Clamor” (see Fides, 2/3/2021), which brings together church organizations working in collaboration with the Chilean Bishops’ Conference to promote the integration of migrants and refugees, states that it welcomes the commitment to strengthening the rule of law and the functioning of institutions, noting: “The vast majority of migrants increasingly wish to participate in these efforts, which can bring peace, order, and prosperity if they serve human dignity and social cohesion.”
“Exclusion does not solve the migration problem, but exacerbates it,” the organization warns. Many of these people entered irregularly, “not out of disregard for the law, but because they were forced to protect their lives and, given the situation in their countries of origin, had no other choice.” The organization is convinced that it is possible to promote policies that protect border security and control without violating fundamental rights or harming human dignity and social cohesion. At the same time, it proposes a transparent dialogue to highlight the risks of the reform. In particular, it warns that the measure “could not only endanger social cohesion but also negatively impact the lives of children.” (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 24/3/2026)
