Hundreds protest in Chile against migration rise

Hundreds of anti-migration protesters marched through Chile's northern city of Iquique on Saturday amid an increase in the number of people who have illegally crossed into the country.

Police officers watched over the demonstrators as they made their way towards a square.

The protesters carried Chilean flags and chanted anti-migration slogans as opposition demonstrators gathered nearby.

Police officers were seen detaining at least one pro-migration protester.

Similar anti-migration demonstrations were also held in other parts of Chile, including in the capital Santiago.

They were held amid a surge in the number of migrants who have illegally entered Chile at the north of the country.

The Jesuit Migrant Service has estimated that at least 23,000 migrants have illegally crossed into Chile so far this year.

That's compared to 16,848 in total in 2020.