So, you’ve probably seen the headlines or heard the whispers about "burglary tourism." It sounds like something out of a weird Netflix crime doc, but for folks in New York City and the surrounding suburbs, it’s become a very real, very tense situation involving the Department of Homeland Security and Chilean travelers.
If you’re planning a trip or just trying to make sense of the news, it’s kinda complicated. Basically, there is a specific friction point right now between the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and a surge in high-end thefts that authorities are pinning on organized groups from South America.
The "Burglary Tourism" Label Explained
Let’s be real: most people coming from Chile to NYC are just here for the pizza, the Met, and the Times Square lights. But a small, highly organized fraction has changed the game for everyone else. Federal prosecutors and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) have been sounding the alarm on "South American Theft Groups" or SATGs.
These aren't your typical pickpockets. We’re talking about crews that fly into JFK or Newark, rent a car, and use sophisticated tech like Wi-Fi jammers to take down home security systems. They hit luxury apartments in Manhattan or wealthy enclaves in Nassau County and then vanish.
Because Chile is currently the only Latin American country in the Visa Waiver Program, citizens can get an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) in minutes. No long embassy interviews. No deep background checks. Just a flight and a dream—or, in some cases, a crowbar.
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Why ICE is Cracking Down in NYC Right Now
In early 2026, the heat has officially turned up. ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Newark and New York offices have been executing what they call "surge operations." Honestly, if you’re a Chilean tourist in NYC right now, you might notice a bit more scrutiny at the border or even in the city.
Take the case of Gustavo Ignacio Salas Ortega. He was a 33-year-old Chilean national who was part of a crew in New Jersey. ICE picked him up in late 2024, and by February 2025, he was facing federal charges for conspiracy to receive stolen property. He was caught wearing a luxury watch stolen from a jewelry store his crew had entered by literally cutting a hole through a wall.
It’s these kinds of "Mission Impossible" heists that have led politicians like Rep. Young Kim and Rep. Chip Roy to demand that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem suspend Chile’s VWP status entirely. They argue that the Chilean government isn't sharing criminal databases fast enough, allowing people with records back home to slide into the U.S. as "tourists."
The Human Cost of the Crackdown
It’s not all high-speed chases and stolen Rolexes, though. The net is being cast wide, and sometimes it catches people who aren't part of any "theft group."
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Just recently, in January 2026, the immigration community was shaken by reports of four migrants dying in ICE custody within the first ten days of the year. One of them, Luis Beltrán Yáñez-Cruz, was arrested in November 2024. While he was detained in the Imperial Regional Detention Center after being transferred from the East Coast, his health spiraled. His daughter, Josselyn, has been vocal on social media, claiming her father wasn't a criminal but a healthy man who died because of medical neglect in the system.
This is the messy reality. On one hand, you have the "Operation Metro Surge" where ICE is arresting "the worst of the worst"—gang members from Tren de Aragua or professional burglars. On the other, you have families who feel that being Latino in the wrong place at the wrong time is enough to get you detained.
What This Means for Travelers
If you’re visiting from Chile, or you’re a local seeing more ICE activity, here’s the deal. Enforcement is at an all-time high. The Trump administration’s 2026 mandates have unleashed a 120% increase in manpower for ICE. They aren't just waiting for people to commit crimes; they are actively looking for anyone who has overstayed their 90-day VWP window.
- Check Your Paperwork: If you are on an ESTA, that 90-day limit is a hard wall. There is zero wiggle room right now.
- The "Safety" of the VWP: There is a high probability that Chile’s status in the VWP will be restricted or paused if the "burglary tourism" trend continues to dominate the news cycle.
- Scrutiny at JFK/EWR: Expect longer questioning. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are looking for specific red flags: short-term stays with no clear hotel reservation, lack of a return ticket, or carrying tools that could be used in burglaries.
Actionable Steps and Insights
If you are a traveler or someone affected by these policy shifts, stay informed about your rights. Organizations like Human Rights Watch and Documented NY are tracking these arrests closely.
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For those visiting NYC, keep your documentation—passport, ESTA approval, and return flight info—digitally accessible at all times. If you’re a resident, be aware that ICE operations in 2026 are targeting high-transit areas and "sanctuary" zones more aggressively than in previous years.
The situation is fluid. One day it's a news release about a "monster" arrested for violent crimes; the next, it’s a story about a grandmother being shackled at LaGuardia for a visa technicality. The "Chilean tourist NYC ICE" situation is the perfect storm of international diplomacy, organized crime, and a very intense domestic enforcement era.
Keep an eye on the official DHS "Making America Safe Again" bulletins for the latest arrest data, but also follow local legal aid groups to see how these policies are actually playing out on the ground in Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan.