Chile; Reconstruction Plan Advances in Congress; Haitian Children Located; OHLA Expands Santiago Metro Projects.

Friday, June 26, 2026. Chile Chile continues to navigate a series of developments that reflect the complex political, social, and institutional dynamics shaping the country today. This week’s headlines have been dominated by debates surrounding government accountability, public security, migration oversight, and historical justice, issues that continue to influence both the national conversation and the broader operating environment for businesses and investors. Among the most significant developments are the initiation of a constitutional accusation against a former cabinet minister, ongoing discussions regarding reforms to juvenile criminal responsibility laws, and investigations into the whereabouts of migrant children whose cases have raised concerns about oversight within the immigration system. These developments come alongside judicial rulings related to crimes committed during the military dictatorship and renewed political debate over the use of inclusive language in official government communications. At the same time, Chileans are closely following the progress of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, providing a welcome point of national interest amid an otherwise active and often contentious public agenda. In this edition, we examine the key events shaping Chile’s current landscape and explore their potential implications for governance, public policy, institutional stability, and the overall business environment. Brett Mikkelson Fundador, B.M. Investigations, Inc. – Private Investigations in Panama TOP NEWS and TIDBITS: Assistance from Chilean and Mexican Experts Following the Earthquake in Venezuela: Key Factors in Rescue Operations Venezuela suffered one of the most devastating earthquakes in its history last night. Thousands of people were trapped beneath collapsed buildings. Assistance from rescue specialists from Mexico and Chile will be critical to ongoing rescue operations. Although Chile has not maintained diplomatic relations with Venezuela since 2024, Chilean President José Antonio Kast has already confirmed that his government will send humanitarian aid and deploy highly trained rescue teams experienced in complex disaster-response environments. The devastating event, consisting of two consecutive earthquakes, has left more than 200 people dead, although the death toll could rise into the thousands, according to estimates by the United States Geological Survey, due to the extensive damage inflicted on buildings and infrastructure. The powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, caused dozens of buildings to collapse, triggered widespread power outages, and generated panic among residents, particularly in the heavily affected La Guaira region and the capital city of Caracas. “I have just spoken by telephone with Venezuela’s Acting President, Delcy Rodríguez, to convey Chile’s solidarity during the difficult circumstances facing the Venezuelan people,” Kast said in a post on X. “We are coordinating the delivery of urgent humanitarian assistance and the deployment of rescue teams to respond to the earthquake emergency,” he added. Approximately 700,000 Venezuelans reside in Chile, making them the largest migrant community in the country. Mexico Ready to Assist For its part, the Mexican government confirmed the deployment of a military rescue team and medical personnel to Venezuela, President Claudia Sheinbaum announced. Mexican rescue teams are internationally recognized for their expertise in collapsed-structure search and rescue operations. Sheinbaum stated that, following an initial assessment, authorities would determine whether additional personnel would be required to provide further assistance. “Our solidarity is with the people of Venezuela,” Sheinbaum said during her morning press conference, where she also indicated that she would seek to communicate directly with Acting President Delcy Rodríguez. Sheinbaum explained that Venezuelan authorities have specifically requested Mexico’s support in the form of specialized rescue and medical personnel. Members of Civil Protection are currently participating in debris-removal operations and the search for survivors among buildings that collapsed during the earthquakes in the municipality of Chacao, located in eastern Caracas, Venezuela. The Mexican armed forces have spent five decades implementing disaster-response plans designed to assist civilian populations during emergencies. Mexico notably provided support to the United States when Hurricane Katia struck in 2017. Mexico City itself has experienced several powerful earthquakes throughout its history. Following the devastating 1985 earthquake, civilian volunteer groups known as “Los Topos” emerged. Topos México informed AFP that it is currently evaluating the possibility of deploying personnel to Venezuela. READ ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE Chile’s PDI Locates 52 of 64 Haitian Children Reported as Missing: They Were With Their Families and Enrolled in School The Director of Chile’s Investigations Police (PDI), Eduardo Cerna, reported on Monday that 52 of the 64 Haitian minors have been located. According to a preliminary report from the Comptroller General’s Office, these children entered Chile from Haiti on charter flights in 2025 through the family reunification process, but officials had been unable to find them during field visits conducted in different municipalities. “They are all enrolled in school and registered in the healthcare system, and they are with their fathers, mothers, or siblings. They all have a direct connection with the adult they are living with,” Cerna stated. A week ago, Radio Biobío published the Comptroller General’s preliminary report, which indicated that there was no record of the whereabouts of the children and adolescents. The case led to a criminal complaint filed by the Director of the National Migration Service under the government of José Antonio Kast, Frank Sauerbaum, over a possible child trafficking offense. The official initially stated that there were more than 200 cases in this situation. Eugenio Campos, Director of the National Prosecutor’s Anti-Corruption Unit, also agreed, stating that the number of affected minors would be “more than 200” and that the cases corresponded only to the period between January and April of last year. However, last Friday, despite Sauerbaum’s criminal complaint, Kast’s own Defense Minister, Fernando Barros, firmly stated that “there is no evidence that these children are missing or lost.” The Comptroller General’s document reviewed a random sample of children who entered Chile under the responsibility of 12 adults with whom they had no blood relationship. They traveled on private charter flights as part of the family reunification process, which required them to be received by their parents, relatives, or legally authorized individuals who met specific requirements. According to the oversight body, there were 64 minors whom officials did not find at their registered