Haitians Hoping to Reach U.S. Stranded in Chile, Across Americas

SANTIAGO, Chile—The conservative candidate in Sunday’s presidential runoff vote, José Antonio Kast, has pledged to block what he calls a migrant invasion should he win the election. His leftist opponent, Gabriel Boric, says if he becomes president of Chile, he will end deportations of illegal migrants and provide foreigners a path to legalize their status.

The election will have big implications for the tens of thousands of Haitians who now live in Chile after fleeing their country in recent years. It will also have consequences for the Biden administration, which was overwhelmed in September with an influx of Haitians on the U.S. border who had abandoned Chile after facing hostile conditions.