Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer has issued a strong call for Chile's removal from the U.S. visa waiver program, alleging that Chilean migrants are exploiting the system to orchestrate widespread burglaries across the nation. Spitzer contends that federal agencies, such as the FBI, Department of Justice, Homeland Security, and the State Department, have been aware of this issue but have failed to take appropriate action.

"This has been a largely ignored problem in Washington," Spitzer stated during a Thursday appearance on "FOX & Friends."

This statement comes after the indictment of seven Chilean nationals for high-profile burglaries targeting professional athletes, including Kansas City Chiefs players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. These suspects, who entered the U.S. through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) program, are accused of stealing over $2 million worth of valuables, including jewelry, watches, cash, and luxury goods.

Spitzer revealed that he and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy briefed the FBI on the threat posed by these groups almost two years ago, but no significant action was taken. "Now that prominent athletes and millions of dollars in their belongings have been targeted, the issue is finally gaining attention," Spitzer commented.

According to a Department of Justice press release, the suspects are part of a South American theft ring that systematically burglarized the homes of professional athletes while they were away for games.

Spitzer believes these arrests justify removing Chile from the ESTA program, which permits travelers from participating countries to enter the U.S. without a visa for up to 90 days. Chile is currently the only South American nation in the program. Spitzer argues that Chile isn't adhering to program requirements by not providing criminal background checks on its citizens. He noted that approximately 350,000 Chilean nationals entered the U.S. using ESTA in 2022.

In June 2024, two Chilean nationals utilizing the ESTA program were apprehended after a car crash while fleeing law enforcement in Orange County. These suspects had allegedly burglarized a home, stealing a safe, designer handbags, and jewelry.

"These individuals have been coming here for years," Spitzer explained. "They target areas like Orlando, Florida, home to Disney World, and Orange County, California, with Disneyland. Their purpose isn't tourism; it's burglary."