Peter M. Siavelis, professor of politics and international affairs at Wake Forest University: “The brutal killing of three police officers in Chile’s southern Biobío region could not have come at a worse time for President Gabriel Boric’s government. The attacks contribute to a growing public perception that the country’s security situation is spiraling out of control. While Chile remains relatively safe—and Santiago is a far safer national capital than most in Latin America—the extraordinarily violent nature of recent crimes shocked Chileans. What is more, government statistics show that the rise in violent crime is due mainly to criminal gang activity, often with foreign ties. These connections have prompted Chileans to view rising crime as a problem of illegal immigration. The government responded to the police killings with a series of new security and terrorism proposals that would expand the definition of terrorism, toughen penalties for terrorist activities and…”