Chile moves hundreds of inmates to a new prison as President Kast ramps up security push

Chilean President José Antonio Kast has transferred nearly 300 high-risk inmates to a new prison to combat organized crime. This comes as his administration tackles overcrowding in prisons and aims to prevent incarcerated gang leaders from orchestrating criminal activities behind bars. The mass incarceration campaign has reportedly reduced violence but has also drawn criticism from human rights groups over allegations of arbitrary detention and erosion of civil liberties.

President Kast's move to oversee the transfer at the newly opened La Laguna Prison mirrors the security crackdowns led by El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, whom Kast frequently cites as a model for his own crime-fighting policies.