Argentina’s president has unleashed a major immigration crackdown, claiming migrants are bringing “chaos and abuse” to the country. The executive order signed by Javier Milei on Wednesday will make it easier for the government to deport people who enter the South American country illegally.
Previously, authorities could only expel or deny entry to a foreigner with a criminal conviction of more than three years. The decree also mandates the judiciary to speed up otherwise lengthy immigration court proceedings. Presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni told reporters that it was time “to make Argentina great again”.
“For some time now, we’ve had regulations that invite chaos and abuse by many opportunists who are far from coming to this country in an honest way,” he added.
As part of the changes introduced, foreigners will now have to pay to access Argentina’s public health care and eduction system.
Adorni claimed that the government had to foot a bill of some US$100 million (£75m) to cover the medical treatment of foreigners in the country last year.
“This measure aims to guarantee the sustainability of the public health system, so that it ceases to be a profit centre financed by our citizens,” he said.
The crackdown has sparked a fierce political backlash, with critics pointing out Argentina has not seen a surge in migrants.
The most recent national consensus dating back to 2022 showed there were only 1.93 million foreign residents living in Argentina, which has an overall population of 46 million.
This is the lowest share of immigrants since record-keeping began in 1869.
Milei’s opponents accused the Argentine President of scapegoating migrants for political purposes.
In a social media post, the Vice President of the UN’s committee responsible for migrant rights, Pablo Ceriani Cernadas, wrote: “Once again, politicising migration for electoral purposes and distorting reality.”
Legislative elections are due to be held in Buenos Aires on Sunday, with Milei’s La Libertad Avanza party hoping to take votes from the centre-right.
The presidential spokesman is standing for election as a candidate for La Libertad Avanza.
