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Blue states rallied for illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses ahead of Trump’s REAL ID crackdown

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Americans are scrambling to obtain a state-issued REAL ID in order to travel by plane ahead of a federal deadline next month, which comes after states from coast to coast changed their laws surrounding driver’s licenses to permit illegal immigrants to drive. 

Americans will need to obtain a REAL ID, which is a federally-compliant driver’s license or other identification that meets higher standards than state-issued licenses, in order to easily travel by air, the Department of Homeland Security explains on its website. Only legal U.S. citizens or residents can obtain the identification card, while valid U.S. passports can also still be used instead of a REAL ID for domestic air travel. 

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Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 to heighten security requirements for driver’s licenses in response to the attacks on 9/11. Though some states began complying with the law more than a decade ago, enforcement for all states had been repeatedly delayed due to the pandemic, DMV backlogs, as well as some states, such as South Carolina, initially refusing to comply. 

The move to officially enforce REAL IDs at the national level for domestic air travel comes after 19 states and Washington, D.C., put laws on the books allowing illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses. 

HOUSE REPUBLICAN’S BILL WOULD RIP FEDERAL FUNDS FROM STATES THAT GIVE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS DRIVER’S LICENSES

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REAL ID and TSA lines (Reuters/DC DMV)

The states, which stretch from New York and New Jersey to California and Washington state, changed their laws in order to allow illegal immigrants to drive freely to work, while also ensuring they meet driving skill requirements and could obtain car insurance to bolster road safety, various liberal lawmakers and immigrant advocacy groups said as they rallied support for the law changes.

«Expanding access to driver’s licenses is critical for the safety of New Jerseyans and a step toward building a stronger and fairer New Jersey for all,» New Jersey Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy, for example, said in 2019 after signing the Garden State’s legislation allowing illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses. 

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LEGAL IMMIGRANT OUTRAGED OVER MINNESOTA OFFERING DRIVER’S LICENSES TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

 «Allowing residents the opportunity to obtain driver’s licenses regardless of their immigration status will decrease the number of uninsured drivers and increase safety on our roads. I thank my partners in the Legislature for sending this important bill to my desk,» he added. 

Migrants in El Paso, Texas

A group of migrants rushes the border wall March 21, 2024, knocking down Texas National Guardsmen in the process. (James Breeden for New York Post/Mega)

Just a few months after New Jersey’s 2021 law change, the state issued 100,000 new permits, a 65% jump compared to the same three-month period in years prior, NJ Spotlight News reported at the time. 

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BONDI ANNOUNCES NEW LAWSUITS AGAINST STATES ALLEGEDLY FAILING TO COMPLY WITH IMMIGRATION ACTIONS

New Jersey is among the states that have reported long wait times at DMVs as residents scramble to obtain a REAL ID to fly ahead of the May 7 deadline. 

The states that allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses include: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Washington. Washington state had a law on the books allowing illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses since 1993, National Conference of State Legislatures data show, while most states, such as Illinois and California, began changing their laws starting in 2012. 

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In Massachusetts in 2022, Republican Gov. Charlie Baker vetoed legislation allowing illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses, citing that local DMVs did not have the ability to verify the validity of foreign documents and that it would overall weaken the validity of state driver’s licenses. 

Migrants who crossed the Rio Grande at the southern border

Migrants who crossed the Rio Grande are lined up for processing by Customs and Border Protection, Sept. 23, 2023, in Eagle Pass, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

«I cannot sign this legislation because it requires the Registry of Motor Vehicles to issue state credentials to people without the ability to verify their identity. The Registry does not have the expertise or ability to verify the validity of many types of documents from other countries,» Baker said at the time. «Consequently, a standard Massachusetts driver’s license will no longer confirm that a person is who they say they are.» 

Massachusetts ultimately allowed illegal aliens to obtain driver’s licenses through a ballot initiative. 

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Domestic air travelers who are in the nation illegally are required to present a valid and up-to-date photo ID to board a flight, and can show documents such as a driver’s license, a current foreign passport, a military ID or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) Employment Authorization Card, and other forms of photo IDs, according to various immigrant advocacy groups. 

SANCTUARY STATE’S ‘GREEN LIGHT’ LAW IS RED FLAG FOR AMERICANS’ SAFETY, NATIONAL SECURITY: EXPERTS

The Trump administration, which has been on an illegal immigration deportation blitz, revealed in a memo last week that the REAL ID requirement will further crack down on illegal aliens moving freely around the country. 

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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at White House

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is recognized as President Donald Trump speaks during an event at the White House on April 2. (AP/Mark Schiefelbein)

A Department of Homeland Security memo exclusively obtained by Fox Digital last week outlined that part of the motivation for the Trump administration to enforce the REAL ID law is to prevent those in the country illegally from flying – unless they are looking to self-deport on an international flight.

«Under Biden, illegal aliens used non-compliant IDs from sanctuary cities to board flights, but REAL ID’s higher security standards make it nearly impossible to forge legitimate documents, ensuring only verified travelers can fly,» the memo states. 

«This closes the gaping vulnerabilities Biden’s policies created, preventing criminals and potential terrorists from exploiting our aviation system, as seen during 9/11 when fraudulent IDs enabled attacks,» the memo continues.

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NEW JERSEY BILL TO LET ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS GET DRIVERS’ LICENSES ADVANCES TO GOVERNOR’S DESK

The agency emphasized that the measure prevents people in the country illegally from traveling within the U.S.

«DHS and TSA are clear, the only place an illegal alien should be flying is home. Under Secretary Kristi Noem’s leadership, illegal aliens will be barred from domestic flights, with one exception: illegal aliens self-deporting on international flights will be allowed to board without a REAL ID, encouraging their exit from the U.S.,» it states.

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While many conservatives backed the REAL ID Act, both in 2005 and now, some have said it bolsters the oversight «Big Brother» holds over the country. 

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FLOOD DMVS IN NY AFTER NEW DRIVERS LICENSE LAW TAKES EFFECT

«Evidently, existing ID requirements for American citizens just aren’t adequate now, so Big Brother is forcing us through more hoops for the ‘right’ to travel within our own country,» former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin posted to X. 

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«If you think REAL ID is about election integrity, you’re going to be sorely disappointed. Someone has lied to you, or you’re engaged in wishful thinking. Please don’t shoot the messenger,» Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., wrote on X last week. 

«REAL ID is a 2005 George Bush-era Patriot Act overreach that went completely unenforced until Trump got into office. Let me guess: he’s playing 4D chess and I should just go along with it?» Massie wrote in another post. 

TOP TRUMP AGENCY HYPES IMPORTANCE OF REAL ID ENFORCEMENT, CITING ONE KEY REASON

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Energy Secretary Chris Wright, President Donald Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum

Energy Secretary Chris Wright, President Donald Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum (Reuters)

President Donald Trump, under his first administration, pushed back the REAL ID October 2020 deadline as the pandemic raged. The Biden administration’s DHS established the May 7, 2025, deadline in 2022. 

Tricia McLaughlin, the DHS assistant secretary for public affairs, told Fox News Digital in a statement last week: «REAL IDs make identification harder to forge, thwarting criminals and terrorists. 81% of air travelers hold REAL ID-compliant or acceptable IDs. DHS will continue to collaborate with state, local, and airport authorities to inform the public, facilitate compliance, curb wait times and prevent fraud.»

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«DHS responds to official correspondence through official channels,» McLaughlin added.

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El régimen de China volvió a amenazar con represalias si persiste la escalada de la guerra comercial con EEUU

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Xie Feng, el embajador de China en EEUU (REUTERS/ARCHIVO)

El embajador de China en Estados Unidos, Xie Feng, pidió a Washington buscar una relación de equilibrio y coexistencia pacífica con Beijing, al tiempo que advirtió que su país responderá con medidas de represalia si persiste la escalada de la guerra comercial.

Según un comunicado publicado en la página web de la Embajada de China en Washington, Xie intervino el sábado en un acto público donde denunció los efectos negativos de los aranceles impuestos por ambos países, y advirtió que estas medidas están congelando el intercambio comercial entre las dos mayores economías del mundo.

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Xie comparó la situación actual con los efectos de los aranceles estadounidenses de 1930 que, según dijo, “devastaron la economía mundial y contribuyeron a la Gran Depresión”. Subrayó que los aranceles actuales, que superan en ambos casos el 100%, están bloqueando el comercio, la inversión y los intercambios culturales entre los países.

Trump asegura haber iniciado buenas
Trump asegura haber iniciado buenas conversaciones con Beijing pese a las tensiones (REUTERS/ARCHIVO)

El diplomático chino utilizó conceptos de la medicina tradicional de su país para ilustrar su mensaje. “Una buena receta de medicina tradicional china suele combinar muchos ingredientes diferentes que se refuerzan mutuamente y crean el mejor efecto médico”, dijo Xie, al argumentar que la armonía y el equilibrio entre fuerzas opuestas deberían guiar la relación bilateral.

El planeta es lo suficientemente grande como para dar cabida tanto a China como a Estados Unidos”, afirmó. “Deberíamos buscar la coexistencia pacífica en lugar de chocar frontalmente, y ayudarnos mutuamente a tener éxito en lugar de quedar atrapados en un escenario en el que todos pierden”.

Las declaraciones del embajador se produjeron en un contexto de tensiones crecientes entre ambas naciones, después del inicio de la guerra comercial hace dos semanas.

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Estados Unidos y China endurecen
Estados Unidos y China endurecen políticas que afectan comercio e inversión bilateral (REUTERS/ARCHIVO)

Pese al endurecimiento del clima bilateral, el presidente Donald Trump afirmó el viernes que existen “buenas conversaciones” en curso con China. “Por cierto, tenemos buenas conversaciones en marcha con China. Son realmente muy buenas”, dijo a periodistas desde la Casa Blanca, sin ofrecer más detalles.

Fuentes oficiales chinas han reiterado que cualquier diálogo debe ir precedido de señales de respeto mutuo por parte de Washington. Xie insistió en que China se opone a la guerra comercial, pero advirtió que responderá con firmeza a nuevos aranceles: “Tomaremos represalias ante cualquier país que imponga aranceles a China”, declaró.

El Gobierno de Donald Trump espera cerrar el próximo mes acuerdos comerciales con la mayoría de países a los que impuso gravámenes, mientras la guerra comercial desatada por su agresiva política arancelaria se centra en un pulso con China que inquieta a las empresas y empieza a lastrar la popularidad del mandatario republicano.

Washington aplica un arancel del 10 % y mantiene gravámenes más altos que llegan al 145 % para presionar a Beijing, mientras que, a su vez, impone aranceles al acero y el aluminio, del 25 %. La Casa Blanca justificó el viernes su funcionamiento en la buena marcha de una empresa de productos derivados de esas materias primas, Ellwood Group, que tuvo un aumento de ventas intertrimestral del 30 %.

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Con la guerra comercial ahora centrada en EEUU y China, el presidente chino, Xi Jinping, hizo una gira la semana pasada por varios países del Sudeste Asiático para estrechar relaciones y precisamente firmó un centenar de acuerdos de cooperación con Vietnam, Malasia y Camboya.

Trump fijó aranceles del 20%
Trump fijó aranceles del 20% para la Unión Europea, 46% para Vietnam y, en el caso de China, un conjunto de medidas que podrían llevar el arancel total por encima del 100% (Imagen: Shutterstock)

Esos países, que se enfrentan a algunos de los mayores aranceles “recíprocos” de EEUU y son clave en la cadena de suministro del país, son miembros de la Asociación de Estados del Sudeste Asiático (ASEAN), bloque que se ha comprometido a no tomar represalias, como sí ha hecho Beijin.

Poco ha trascendido sobre las negociaciones de EEUU, pero Vietnam, que afronta un arancel del 46 %, dijo el viernes estar “listo para negociar”, tras una reunión entre su Gobierno y el Consejo Empresarial EE.UU.-ASEAN en la que concluyeron que sus economías “se complementan”, no “compiten”.

Trump aseguró esta semana estar hablando con representantes chinos para llegar a un acuerdo con Beijing en las próximas semanas, pero al otro lado de ese pulso, su homólogo chino mantiene los aranceles del 125 % a EEUU y ha tomado otras medidas, como vetar las entregas de aviones Boeing.

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El jueves pasado, Washington movió otro peón en este ajedrez comercial al poner aranceles a los buques construidos y operados por China que lleguen a puertos de EEUU, para presionar a Beijing con una estrategia cada vez más agresiva.

Por su parte, el secretario de Comercio de EEUU, Howard Lutnick, que defendió la tregua arancelaria, parece que solo logró convencer a Trump de una pausa, al sumar fuerzas con el secretario del Tesoro, Scott Bessent, y acudir al Despacho Oval de la Casa Blanca durante una ausencia del asesor de línea dura Peter Navarro, según reveló The Wall Street Journal.

(Con información de Reuters)

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Trump hopeful Russia and Ukraine can make a deal after temporary Easter ceasefire ends

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President Donald Trump is «hopeful» Russia and Ukraine can make a deal this week after a temporary Easter ceasefire between the two countries ended.  

«Hopefully Russia and Ukraine will make a deal this week,» Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social.

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«Both will then start to do big business with the United States of America, which is thriving, and make a fortune!»

The war between the two countries has raged for more than three years and has cost the lives of tens of thousands of people on both sides. 

PUTIN ANNOUNCES TEMPORARY EASTER CEASEFIRE IN UKRAINE WAR

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President Trump says the U.S. should control Ukraine’s nuclear power plants in a security move as ceasefire negotiations commence. (Getty Images used to create Fox News Image)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of breaking their ceasefire agreement and said «the Russian army has violated Putin’s ceasefire more than two thousand times.»

«The total number of violations by the Russian army of Russia’s own ceasefire promise throughout the day reached 2,935. The highest number of shellings and assaults occurred in the Pokrovsk,» Zelenskyy wrote. 

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«The Russian promise of complete silence did not spread in the Kursk direction either. In total, there were 96 Russian assaults on the front, 1,882 shelling of our positions, and in particular 812 with heavy weapons, Russian FPV drones were used more than 950 times.» — Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Zelenskyy added that Ukraine will remain a mirror-image and «will respond to silence with silence our strikes in defense of Russian strikes.» 

«Actions are always more eloquent than words,» Zelenskyy said. 

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PUTIN CONSCRIPTS 160K MEN AS RUSSIA EYES UKRAINE OFFENSIVE

ukraine damage

Local residents walk among the debris near a damaged house, a day after a Russian strike on a suburb of Odesa, southern Ukraine, on March 7, 2025. (OLEKSANDR GIMANOV/AFP via Getty Images)

Putin ordered his forces to stop all military activity along the front line in the temporary Easter ceasefire until midnight, Moscow time, on Sunday.

Zelenskyy previously said that if the Easter ceasefire actually held up, he would propose extending it longer.

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«That is what will reveal Russia’s true intentions – because 30 hours is enough to make headlines, but not for genuine confidence-building measures,» he said. «Thirty days could give peace a chance.»

Zelenskyy added that «there is no trust in words coming from Moscow» after one of his military leaders reported that Russia had seemed to break their truce. 

«We know all too well how Moscow manipulates, and we are prepared for anything. Ukraine’s Defense Forces will act rationally – responding in kind. Every Russian strike will be met with an appropriate response,» Zelenskyy said. 

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ZELENSKYY SENSATIONALLY PREDICTS PUTIN ‘WILL DIE SOON’

trump, putin and zelenskyy

President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., echoed Zelenskyy and said on «Face the Nation» on CBS that the likelihood of Russia upholding the deal is «entirely up to Vladimir Putin.»

«The man has never kept his word, ever, in any context, as far as I’m aware,» Fitzpatrick said. «So we have to know what we’re dealing with. Our government, I hope, knows who they’re dealing with Vladimir Putin. He’s not a man of his word. He’s not interested in peace. I hope he gets there.»

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Fitzpatrick added that he felt like Secretary of State Marco Rubio is «doing a great job and understands Putin.»

«He understands the dynamic of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the history there. And I have full faith in his ability to barter a just and fair agreement,» Fitzpatrick explained. «But it’s important to remember, and this applies to all agreements where we facilitate as a nation, that it’s ultimately up to the nations to accept and abide by those conditions.» 

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«President Zelensky, the Ukrainian people desperately want peace. They’ve always wanted peace. They were a peaceful nation before Russia wrongfully invaded them, and they want to get it back. But it has got to be a just and lasting peace,» he said. 

The temporary ceasefire came after Trump on Thursday said an 80-page minerals deal will be signed with Ukraine in one week. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent later said it would likely be signed on April 26. 

Details on the agreement remain relatively unknown, though recent reporting by Bloomberg has suggested the U.S. has eased back its demands for repayment for its aid in Ukraine’s fight against Russia from $300 billion to $100 billion. 

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Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com

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Encapuchados quemaron medio centenar de camiones en una hidroeléctrica en la Araucanía chilena

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(Archivo) Incendio ocurrido en enero de 2025 en la misma zona donde se presentó el de este domingo

Al menos 47 camiones, dos excavadoras, un camión cisterna, una motoniveladora fueron destruidos en el último ataque incendiario perpetrado por encapuchados armados en la Araucanía chilena.

Hasta las obras de la de la presa y central de Rucalhue se desplazaron este domingo de madrugada al menos cinco individuos con el rostro cubierto y fuertemente armados que golpearon y redujeron a dos guardias de seguridad.

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La empresa Rucalhue Energía informó de los daños causados en un ataque incendiario ocurrido en las obras de la central de Rucalhue, que según indicó la propia empresa, están ubicadas en las comunas de Santa Bárbara y Quilaco.

La compañía indicó en un comunicado que está haciendo una evaluación completa de las pérdidas y que este tipo de hechos “no solo representa un atentado contra la infraestructura, sino también contra los trabajadores, las comunidades vecinas y el Estado de derecho”.

El proyecto, agregó la compañía, “cumple con toda la normativa ambiental, social y técnica vigente, y que su desarrollo ha sido parte de un proceso transparente ante las instituciones del Estado”.

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Carabineros confirmaron la maquinaria pesada afectada y han informado además de dos guardias lesionados. El acto ha sido condenado por el Gobierno, que ha adelantado que se querellará por Ley Antiterrorista en este caso.

“El atentado en la central Rucalhue en Alto BioBio merece toda nuestra condena. Tal como lo hemos hecho en otros casos, perseguiremos y encontraremos a los responsables que deberán responder ante la justicia. Seguiremos trabajando sin dar pie atrás para erradicar toda forma de violencia”, aseguró el presidente chileno, Gabriel Boric, en un mensaje publicado en su cuenta en X.

ARCHIVO - Soldados patrullan frente
ARCHIVO – Soldados patrullan frente a un edificio del gobierno provincial en Arauco, en la región de La Araucanía, en el sur de Chile, el 14 de octubre de 2021 (Foto AP/José Luis Saavedra, archivo)

“Es inaceptable que sigan ocurriendo estos hechos de violencia en la región del Biobío. Este ataque tiene que abrir los ojos a todo el mundo político, a la Fiscalía y a los organismos de seguridad del país de que el terrorismo sigue actuando en la zona de Biobío”, afirmó el vicepresidente de la Cámara de Diputados chilena, Eric Aedo, del Partido Demócrata Cristiano (DC).

“Esto es un llamado de atención a que el estado de excepción debe seguir funcionando y es también un llamado de atención en relación a qué está haciendo el Ejército y la Armada para prevenir estos hechos de violencia”, añadió.

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Desde la Unión Demócrata Independiente (UDI), la diputada Flor Weisse aseguró que “estas conductas han sido toleradas por esta administración y no se resolverán con más burocracia ni con la creación de un nuevo Ministerio”. “Lo que necesitamos es acción, es voluntad política real para enfrentar el terrorismo con firmeza y decisión”, remarcó.

En el Biobío y otras zonas del sur de Chile, como La Araucanía, existe desde hace décadas una disputa territorial entre el Estado, algunas comunidades radicales mapuche y empresas forestales que explotan tierras consideradas ancestrales por los indígenas.

El pueblo mapuche, la etnia indígena más numerosa de Chile, reclama los territorios que habitaron durante siglos, antes de que fueran ocupadas a la fuerza por el Estado chileno a fines del siglo XIX en un proceso conocido oficialmente como la “Pacificación de La Araucanía” y que ahora pertenecen en su mayoría a empresas forestales.

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En este contexto, son frecuentes los ataques incendiarios a maquinaria y predios, y el conflicto ha costado la vida a un gran número de comuneros mapuche y policías.

Desde mediados de 2022, en la zona rige un estado de excepción constitucional ratificado por el Congreso hasta la fecha, que permite el despliegue militar en la zona para que ayuden a Carabineros (Policía militarizada) a controlar el orden público, incluyendo vigilancia en las principales carreteras y caminos aledaños.

(Con información de Europa Press y EFE)

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