The immigration policy of Chile, which has been independent since 1818, is mainly focused on expanding the country’s agricultural borders and on colonization, at the expense of the indigenous population. In the 19th century, German-speaking immigrants and others enter the country, while in the 20th century, Jews from Russia and the Balkans are among the country’s immigrants, although viewed as “racially undesirable.”

After 1929, export earnings for Chile’s largest industries, saltpeter and copper, collapse and unemployment rises. In 1931 the dictatorial regime of President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo is overthrown; the ensuing political chaos ends only in 1932 with the election of Arturo Alessandri Palma, who previously served as president from 1920 to 1925 as a member of the Liberal Alliance. In his second term, however, he governs as a conservative, tightening immigration policy to protect the domestic labor market. Now it is mainly farmers who are let in, and quotas are placed on Jewish immigration.

Despite increasing restrictions, several hundred German Jews enter Chile during the first years of the National Socialist regime. Simultaneously, fascist and nationalistic movements strengthen in Chile. The Movimiento Nacionalsocialista de Chile, founded in 1932, is supported by the German Embassy and the Nazi Party’s international organization.

However, the increasing nationalism and rightward shift do not remain unchallenged: In 1936 Jewish immigrants establish the Comité Contra el Antisemitismo, while Communists, Socialists and radicals join together to form the Frente Popular (Popular Front), which takes power at the end of 1938.

The new president, Pedro Aguirre Cerda, supports a liberal immigration policy, especially towards republican refugees from Spain. A special office of the Foreign Ministry is set up to admit 3,000 Jews from Germany and Austria. As the result of this new, liberal policy, the numbers of new immigrants skyrocket. The extreme right then attacks the government for endangering national security. The debate in the parliament and press is tinged by overt antisemitism.

After being accused of enriching himself through awarding “Jewish visas,” the foreign minister is forced to resign in 1940 and the humanitarian admission process ends because of pressure from immigration opponents and the delaying and denial of visas by right-wing consuls. Nevertheless, Chile remains one of the most important Latin American destinations for Jewish refugees.